A Florida judge has ruled that there is “reasonable evidence” suggesting that Tesla CEO Elon Musk and other executives knew about a defective Autopilot system but allowed the vehicles to be driven in an unsafe manner. This decision allows the plaintiff in a lawsuit over a fatal crash to proceed to trial and pursue punitive damages against Tesla for intentional misconduct and gross negligence. The case involves a 2019 crash where a Tesla Model 3 drove under the trailer of a truck, resulting in the death of the owner.
The judge’s ruling is considered a setback for Tesla, particularly after the company successfully defended itself in two product liability trials in California earlier in the year over the Autopilot driver assistance system. A Tesla spokesperson has not provided immediate comment on this recent ruling.
Also Read: Tesla Emerges Victorious in Initial US Autopilot Trial Concerning a Deadly Accident
The lawsuit in Florida centers around allegations that Tesla engaged in a marketing strategy portraying its products as autonomous. The judge noted that Elon Musk’s public statements about the technology had a significant impact on public perception. The plaintiff, the wife of the deceased Tesla owner, is now allowed to argue to jurors that Tesla’s warnings in its manuals and “clickwrap” agreement were inadequate.
The judge highlighted the “eerily similar” nature of the 2019 crash to a 2016 fatal incident involving the Autopilot system failing to detect crossing trucks. The judge suggested that it would be reasonable to conclude that Tesla, through Musk and its engineers, was well aware of the Autopilot’s shortcomings in detecting cross traffic.
Additionally, the judge cited a 2016 video showing a Tesla vehicle driving without human intervention as part of Tesla’s Autopilot marketing. The judge noted that this video, without a clear indication that the technology didn’t currently exist, could mislead viewers about the system’s capabilities. This ruling opens the possibility of a public trial, raising potential challenges for Tesla and its CEO.
