- Start
- Jul 2, 202695% CONFIDENCEfrom sec.gov
Tesla Asks the Eleventh Circuit to Overturn the $243 Million Autopilot Verdict
- Tesla filed its opening brief in Benavides v. Tesla, Eleventh Circuit No. 26-10858, on 2 July 2026, asking the court to overturn the Miami judgment over the fatal 2019 Autopilot crash[3]
- Its appellate team includes former Solicitor General Paul Clement and Theodore Boutrous; the plaintiffs are represented by former Solicitor General Elizabeth Prelogar[1][5]
- A central issue is the $200 million punitive award: Tesla argues Florida law allows punitive damages only for intentional misconduct or gross negligence, which it says the evidence did not show, and that the verdict stretches manufacturer liability too far[1]
- The jury had put Tesla at 33% fault, about $42.6 million of compensatory damages, for a judgment of roughly $243 million[1]
- Judge Beth Bloom had refused to set the verdict aside in February, finding the evidence 'more than supports' it[6]
- The US Chamber of Commerce, the American Tort Reform Association, the American Property Casualty Insurance Association and NetChoice filed an amicus brief for Tesla, arguing the award judged a 2019 car by today's industry standards[4]
- The appeal is before the court in Atlanta, and its ruling is watched as a test of liability for driver-assistance systems[2]
- Tesla has recorded only an immaterial accrual for the case[3]
References 683% CONFIDENCEOverall confidence: 83%How well the pin's source and references back up its dates.Weighted average of how firmly 6 references, the source included, support the pin's start and end times; a reference counts half as much for every 180 days older than the newestShow all pins at 75% confidence or better
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- [1]90%jdjournal.com/2026/07/17/tesla-243m-autopilot-crash-appealjdjournal.com· Posted Sep 28, 2026· Starts Jul 2, 2026· 23% of score
Tesla's 10-Q for the quarter ended 30 June 2026: 'on July 2, 2026, the Company filed its opening brief with the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit'.
- [2]70%Tesla Crash Appeal Puts $243M Verdict Under Firejdjournal.com· Published Sep 7, 2026· 21% of score
Says the appeal is before the 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Atlanta, that major business groups have backed Tesla, and that Tesla says the driver caused the crash.[1]
- [3]95%Tesla, Inc. Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2026sec.gov· Published Jul 23, 2026· Starts Jul 2, 2026 ✓· 18% of score
Tesla's own filing dates the brief: 'On February 19, 2026, the Court denied the Company's post-trial motions, and on July 2, 2026, the Company filed its opening brief with the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit'; it has recorded only an immaterial accrual.[1]
- [4]80%NetChoice Amicus Brief in Support of Tesla in Benavides v. Teslanetchoice.org· Published Jul 9, 2026· 17% of score
NetChoice says it joined the US Chamber of Commerce, the American Tort Reform Association and the American Property Casualty Insurance Association in an amicus brief backing Tesla's appeal, arguing the award rests on today's industry standards rather than 2019's.
- [5]75%Appearance of Counsel Form, Benavides v. Tesla, 11th Cir. No. 26-10858storage.courtlistener.com· Published Mar 25, 2026· 11% of score
Eleventh Circuit filing in case 26-10858, dated 25 March 2026, entering Elizabeth B. Prelogar's appearance for Neima Benavides and Dillon Angulo.[1]
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