Overview

• The trial opened July 14 in Miami federal court over a 2019 crash that killed Naibel Benavides and injured her boyfriend after a Model S on Autopilot struck a parked SUV at a Key Largo intersection
• Plaintiffs presented in-cabin video and detailed telemetry indicating the system recognized both the SUV and the roadway’s end but failed to brake or alert the driver
• Tesla maintains that driver George Brian McGee is at fault, citing data showing his accelerator input overrode Autopilot while he searched for a dropped cellphone
• Judge Beth Bloom granted permission for the jury to consider punitive damages after ruling Tesla could have acted with reckless disregard for human life
• A verdict against Tesla could expand its liability for current Autopilot-equipped vehicles and influence oversight of its planned fully autonomous Robotaxi deployment