Overview

• The jury assigned Tesla 33% liability and ordered the company to pay $42.5 million in compensatory damages and $200 million in punitive damages.
• Tesla said it will appeal the verdict, arguing that the driver’s foot on the accelerator overrode Autopilot and that no vehicle could have prevented the 2019 collision.
• Plaintiffs’ lead counsel contended that Tesla’s marketing overstated Autopilot capabilities and encouraged drivers to over-rely on the system.
• In the 2019 incident, a Model S in Autopilot mode failed to brake when the driver looked down to retrieve a dropped phone, crashing into a parked SUV and killing one pedestrian while injuring another.
• Observers say the appeal could set a precedent for automaker accountability and influence future regulatory and legal standards for driver-assist technologies.