Tesla rejected a $60 million settlement proposal in a wrongful death lawsuit stemming from a 2019 fatal crash involving its Autopilot system.
The disclosure came in a Monday court filing in Miami, where lawyers for the plaintiffs said Tesla turned down the offer in May.
The filing was part of a request for legal fees, with attorneys arguing that Florida law entitles them to recover fees accrued since the date of the proposal.
Tesla has not commented on the filing, while the plaintiffs’ legal team also declined to provide further details.
Jury Issues $243 Million Verdict
The case went to trial earlier this month and ended with a jury awarding $243 million in damages.
Jurors granted $129 million in compensatory damages and $200 million in punitive damages to the estate of Naibel Benavides Leon, who was killed, and her boyfriend Dillon Angulo, who was seriously injured.
Tesla was found liable for 33% of the compensatory damages — amounting to $42.6 million — and all of the punitive damages.
The remaining 67% of compensatory damages was attributed to the driver of the Tesla, who was not named as a defendant in the case.
Fatal Crash Details
The lawsuit centered on an April 2019 collision in Florida involving a Model S equipped with Autopilot driver-assistance technology.
The Tesla struck a parked Chevrolet Tahoe while the victims were standing beside it on the highway shoulder.
The crash killed Benavides Leon and left Angulo with serious injuries.
Plaintiffs argued that Autopilot’s design flaws contributed to the fatal collision, while Tesla denied liability.
Tesla’s Response and Appeal
Tesla issued a statement criticizing the verdict, saying it “only works to set back automotive safety and jeopardize Tesla’s and the entire industry’s efforts to develop and implement life-saving technology.”
The company confirmed plans to appeal the decision, maintaining that it has done nothing wrong.
Tesla has faced other lawsuits tied to its self-driving features, but those cases were either resolved through settlement or dismissed before trial.
This case marked the first time Tesla faced a jury over the death of a third party involving Autopilot.
Implications for Tesla
The outcome underscores growing scrutiny of driver-assistance technologies and could set a precedent for future litigation against Tesla and other automakers.
While Tesla has promoted Autopilot as a safety feature, critics have warned of overreliance and lack of sufficient safeguards.
The appeal process may take months, but the size of the verdict highlights the risks Tesla faces as it continues to push forward with autonomous driving technologies.