this post was submitted on 01 Aug 2025
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Tesla loses Autopilot wrongful death case in $329 million verdict (arstechnica.com)
submitted 1 day ago by some_guy@lemmy.sdf.org to c/technology@lemmy.world
139 comments fedilink hide all child comments
 

A representative for Tesla sent Ars the following statement: "Today's verdict is wrong and only works to set back automotive safety and jeopardize Tesla's and the entire industry's efforts to develop and implement life-saving technology. We plan to appeal given the substantial errors of law and irregularities at trial. Even though this jury found that the driver was overwhelmingly responsible for this tragic accident in 2019, the evidence has always shown that this driver was solely at fault because he was speeding, with his foot on the accelerator—which overrode Autopilot—as he rummaged for his dropped phone without his eyes on the road. To be clear, no car in 2019, and none today, would have prevented this crash. This was never about Autopilot; it was a fiction concocted by plaintiffs’ lawyers blaming the car when the driver—from day one—admitted and accepted responsibility."

So, you admit that the company’s marketing has continued to lie for the past six years?

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[–] NotMyOldRedditName@lemmy.world 34 points 1 day ago* (last edited 1 day ago) (13 children)

This is gonna get overturned on appeal.

The guy dropped his phone and was fiddling for it AND had his foot pressing down the accelerator.

Pressing your foot on it overrides any braking, it even tells you it won't brake while doing it. That's how it should be, the driver should always be able to override these things in case of emergency.

Maybe if he hadn't done that (edit held the accelerator down) it'd stick.

[–] fodor@lemmy.zip -4 points 22 hours ago (10 children)

On what grounds? Only certain things can be appealed, not "you're wrong" gut feelings.

[–] NotMyOldRedditName@lemmy.world 2 points 22 hours ago* (last edited 22 hours ago)

Well, their lawyers stated "We plan to appeal given the substantial errors of law and irregularities at trial"

They can also appeal the actual awards separately as being disproportionate. The amount is pretty ridiculous given the circumstances even if the guilty verdict stands.

There was some racial discrimination suit Tesla lost, and the guy was awarded 137 million. Tesla appealed the amount and got it reduced to 15 million. The guy rejected the 15 million and wanted a retrial on the award, and then got 3.2 million.

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