Tesla is set to appear in federal court in Miami on Monday to defend its Autopilot system in a wrongful death case involving the tragic passing of a 22-year-old college student. The lawsuit, which was initially filed on April 23, 2021, in the 11th Judicial Court of Florida in Miami-Dade County, is based on previous incidents related to Tesla’s Autopilot technology. The plaintiffs, Dillon Angulo and the family of Naibel Benavides Leon, who lost her life in the accident, are seeking punitive damages, along with compensation for medical expenses and other costs. The fatal collision occurred in April 2019 when a Model S Tesla with Autopilot capabilities collided with a stationary vehicle in Key Largo, Florida, resulting in Leon’s death and significant injuries to Angulo. This trial will be a critical challenge for the electric vehicle manufacturer, particularly following CEO Elon Musk’s involvement in the launch of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) and subsequent withdrawal from the initiative. The lawyers representing the plaintiffs did not provide a response to CBS MoneyWatch’s inquiry for comments. The reputation of Tesla’s Autopilot system is under scrutiny in this case. Court documents suggest that George McGee, the Tesla owner, had engaged the Autopilot feature of his 2019 Model S while driving on a rural road in Key Largo. McGee reportedly dropped his phone, causing him to lose focus on the road while attempting to retrieve it, leading to the vehicle speeding through an intersection and colliding with a parked Chevrolet Tahoe truck. The lawsuit questions whether the Autopilot system had deficiencies that contributed to the tragic outcome. Tesla, in a summary judgment motion filed on June 26, asserts that the Autopilot feature did not make the car autonomous and highlights McGee’s responsibility to operate the vehicle safely regardless of Autopilot activation. The company maintained that the accident was the result of a distracted driver, emphasizing McGee’s actions in searching for his phone, speeding, and overriding the car’s system. Mary Cummings, a respected expert on advanced driver-assistance systems from George Mason University, is expected to provide testimony during the trial, alongside McGee himself. The lawsuit’s docket also suggests that the trial may involve insights from Sen. Lindsey Graham on the situation in Ukraine and a unique talent possessed by a student.
