A federal judge has upheld a $243 million jury verdict against Tesla in a fatal Autopilot crash, rejecting the automaker's attempt to overturn the landmark ruling. U.S. District Judge Beth Bloom in Miami ruled that the evidence "more than supported" the August 2025 verdict, which found Tesla 33% liable for a 2019 crash that killed a 22-year-old woman in Florida.

The crash occurred when George McGee's Tesla Model S with Autopilot engaged blew through a stop sign at 62 mph while he retrieved his phone. The jury awarded $43 million in compensatory damages and $200 million in punitive damages - the first major plaintiff victory against Tesla in an Autopilot-related wrongful death case. Tesla had rejected a $60 million settlement offer before trial, a decision that proved costly.

Tesla's legal strategy has now hit a wall, with the company indicating it will appeal to a higher court. The ruling comes amid mounting legal pressure, as Tesla has settled at least four additional Autopilot crash lawsuits since the August verdict. A California judge recently ruled that Tesla's "Autopilot" and "Full Self-Driving" marketing was misleading and violated state law, forcing the company to discontinue Autopilot branding in the U.S. and Canada.