Federal Judge Upholds $243 Million Penalty Against Tesla in Fatal Autopilot Crash

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A federal judge in Miami has rejected Tesla's attempt to overturn a $243 million jury verdict over a fatal 2019 Autopilot crash in Key Largo, Florida. U.S. District Judge Beth Bloom upheld the August 2025 verdict, finding that the evidence 'more than supported' the decision to hold Elon Musk's electric vehicle maker liable for the crash that killed 22-year-old Naibel Benavides Leon and severely injured her boyfriend Dillon Angulo.

Why it matters

The ruling is a significant setback for Tesla as it faces a growing number of lawsuits related to its Autopilot driver-assistance technology. The case highlights ongoing concerns about the safety and reliability of semi-autonomous driving systems, and the potential legal liabilities automakers face when their technology is involved in fatal crashes.

The details

The crash occurred in 2019 when Tesla Model S owner George McGee was driving with Autopilot engaged and bent down to retrieve his phone when he dropped it. McGee's vehicle then blew through a stop sign and flashing red light at an estimated 62 mph and slammed into the victims' parked Chevrolet Tahoe. Tesla had argued that the verdict 'flies in the face of basic Florida tort law, the Due Process Clause, and common sense,' and claimed that references during the trial to Musk's statements about Autopilot had misled the jury. However, the judge disagreed and found that Tesla had presented no new arguments to justify overturning the jury's decision.

• The crash occurred in 2019.
• The $243 million jury verdict was reached in August 2025.
• The federal judge's ruling upholding the verdict was made public on February 20, 2026.

What’s next

Tesla's last hope to avoid paying the $243 million judgment at the trial court level has been exhausted, meaning the company will likely have to pay the full amount unless it appeals the decision further.