EXCLUSIVE Shocking downfall of glamorous QVC shampoo tycoon who's now a 'crazy cat lady'
But former California tycoon Jeannie Maxon, 69, suffered a stunning fall from grace after allegedly leaving 106 Persian cats inside a roasting U-Haul truck.
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Reuters
24 minutes ago
- Reuters
Tesla ordered by Florida jury to pay $329 million in fatal Autopilot crash
Aug 1 (Reuters) - A Florida jury on Friday found Tesla (TSLA.O), opens new tab liable in the 2019 fatal crash of an Autopilot-equipped Model S and ordered Elon Musk's automaker to pay $329 million to the family of a deceased woman and an injured survivor. Jurors in Miami federal court ordered Tesla to pay $129 million in compensatory damages and $200 million in punitive damages to the estate of Naibel Benavides Leon and to her former boyfriend Dillon Angulo. Lawyers for the plaintiffs said the trial was the first involving the wrongful death of a third party resulting from Autopilot. The plaintiffs had sought $345 million. Tesla has faced many similar lawsuits over its vehicles' self-driving capabilities, but they have been resolved or dismissed without getting to trial. A judge rejected Tesla's efforts to dismiss the case earlier in the summer, and experts said this may encourage other litigants against the EV maker. 'I think it's a big deal," said Alex Lemann, a professor at Marquette University Law School, who said this may make future settlements more expensive for Tesla. "This is the first time that Tesla has been hit with a judgment in one of the many, many fatalities that have happened as a result of its auto-pilot technology." Friday's verdict could impede efforts by Musk, the world's richest person, to convince investors that Tesla can become a leader in so-called autonomous driving for private vehicles as well as robotaxis it plans to start producing next year. Shares fell 1.8% on Friday. Tesla plans to appeal, according to published reports. The Austin, Texas-based company and its lawyers did not immediately respond to several requests for comment. The trial concerned an April 25, 2019 incident where George McGee drove his 2019 Model S at about 62 mph (100 kph) through an intersection into the victims' parked Chevrolet Tahoe as they were standing beside it on a shoulder. McGee had reached down to pick up a cellphone he dropped on his car's floorboard and allegedly received no alerts as he ran a stop sign and stop light before hitting the victims' SUV. "We have a driver who was acting less than perfectly, and yet the jury still found Tesla contributed to the crash," said Philip Koopman, a Carnegie Mellon University engineering professor and expert in autonomous technology. "The only way the jury could have possibly ruled against Tesla was by finding a defect with the Autopilot software. That's a big deal." Benavides Leon was allegedly thrown 75 feet to her death, while Angulo suffered serious injuries. "Tesla designed Autopilot only for controlled-access highways yet deliberately chose not to restrict drivers from using it elsewhere, alongside Elon Musk telling the world Autopilot drove better than humans," Brett Schreiber, a lawyer for the plaintiffs, said in a statement. "Today's verdict represents justice for Naibel's tragic death and Dillon's lifelong injuries," he added. Last month, Tesla posted its biggest quarterly sales decline in more than a decade, and profit fell short of Wall Street forecasts.
The Guardian
27 minutes ago
- The Guardian
Arkansas police say suspect admitted killing couple hiking with daughters
Arkansas authorities say a 28-year-old schoolteacher has admitted he killed a couple who were hiking with their two young daughters at a state park, and he has been charged with capital murder in what investigators are portraying as a 'random' attack. Clinton, 43, and Cristen Brink, 41, were found dead on Saturday on a walking trail at Devil's Den state park. Their daughters, seven and nine, were not hurt and are being cared for by family members, authorities have said. State police arrested Andrew McGann on Thursday after a five-day search and a flood of tips. He was captured in Springdale, a city about 30 miles (50km) north of Devil's Den. McGann 'did indicate that he committed the murders', Maj Stacie Rhoads, commander of the state police's criminal investigation division, said at a news conference. 'I would call it an admission.' Police said they matched McGann's DNA to blood found at the crime scene. Arkansas state police colonel Mike Hagar said investigators were trying to determine a motive for the attack but have no reason to believe McGann knew the couple or their children. 'In my 27 years that I've been with the state police, this is probably one of the most heinous that we've had, especially the aspect of just how random it was,' Rhoads said. McGann has been charged with two counts of capital murder. He made his first appearance on Friday before an Arkansas judge, who ordered McGann to be held in jail without bond, assigned him a public defender, and scheduled his arraignment for 25 August. Local prosecutor Brandon Carter indicated the state would give a jury the option to sentence McGann to the death penalty. The Brinks had just moved from South Dakota to the small city of Prairie Grove in north-west Arkansas. Their water had been connected less than two weeks ago, Prairie Grove mayor David Faulk said. Clinton Brink had been scheduled to start a job as a milk delivery driver Monday in the nearby Fayetteville area, according to Hiland Dairy, his employer. Cristen Brink had been licensed as a nurse in Montana and South Dakota before moving to Arkansas. Officials said Clinton Brink was stabbed first, then Cristen Brink ushered her children to safety before returning to help her husband. She was also stabbed to death. Authorities have not said if the girls witnessed their parents being killed. The Brink family said the couple died 'heroes protecting their little girls'. The Springdale public school district in north-west Arkansas said it had hired McGann for the upcoming year but that he had not yet had contact with families or students. He has active teaching licenses with no infractions or suspensions in Arkansas, Texas and Oklahoma, according to government certification websites.
Daily Mail
27 minutes ago
- Daily Mail
Multiple people shot by active shooter who's still on loose in remote Montana town
Several people were gunned down by an active shooter in a remote Montana town, with the suspect still on the loose. The town of Anaconda was placed on lockdown after the shooter is said to have fled the Owl Bar following a shooting inside. According to the Granite County Sheriff's Office they are being actively pursued by law enforcement. Officials said the suspect is wearing a tie-dyed t shirt, blue jeans and an orange bandana. They had pulled over the driver of a white Ford F-150 after chasing after the vehicle, but the suspect was not inside the vehicle. SWAT teams also raided the property of the suspect but they were not inside, the sheriff's office urged locals to stay vigilant. In a statement the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) Denver office said they were responding to the scene. The Montana Highway Patrol said: 'There is a heavy law enforcement presence west of Anaconda near Stumptown Road and Anderson Ranch Loop Road.
