Tesla in court as rare trial against Musk's company starts in Florida
Lawyers for the plaintiff argue that Tesla's driver-assistance feature called Autopilot should have warned the driver and braked when his Model S sedan blew through flashing red lights, a stop sign and a T-intersection at about 112 km/h in the April 2019 crash. Tesla lays the blame solely on the driver, who was reaching for a dropped cellphone.
"The evidence clearly shows that this crash had nothing to do with Tesla's Autopilot technology," Tesla said in a statement. "Instead, like so many unfortunate accidents since cellphones were invented, this was caused by a distracted driver."
The driver, George McGee, was sued separately by the plaintiffs. That case was settled.
A judgment against Tesla could be especially damaging as the company works to convince the public its self-driving technology is safe during a planned rollout of hundreds of thousands of Tesla robotaxis on U.S. roads by the end of next year.
Case rare for two reasons
A jury trial is rare for the company, which often settles lawsuits, and this one is rarer yet because a judge recently ruled that the family of the stricken Naibel Benavides Leon can argue for punitive damages.
The judge, Beth Bloom of the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida, issued a partial summary judgment last month, throwing out charges of defective manufacturing and negligent misrepresentation against Tesla. But she also ruled plaintiffs could argue other claims that would make the company liable and ask for punitive damages, which could prove costly.
"A reasonable jury could find that Tesla acted in reckless disregard of human life for the sake of developing their product and maximizing profit," Bloom said in a filing.
The 2021 lawsuit alleges the driver relied on Autopilot to reduce speed or come to a stop when it detected objects in its way, including a parked Chevrolet Tahoe that Benavides and her boyfriend, Dillon Angulo, had gotten out of near Key West, Fla., to look up at the sky. The Tesla rammed the Tahoe at highway speeds, causing it to rotate and slam into Benavides, tossing her into a wooded area and killing her.
In legal documents, Tesla denied nearly all of the lawsuit's allegations and said it expects that consumers will follow warnings in the vehicle and instructions in the owners' manual, as well as comply with driving laws. Tesla warns owners in manuals that its cars cannot drive themselves and they need to be ready to intervene at all times.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Globe and Mail
26 minutes ago
- Globe and Mail
Beneficient Receives Nasdaq Listing Determination
DALLAS, July 18, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Beneficient (NASDAQ: BENF) (the 'Company'), a technology-enabled platform providing exit opportunities and primary capital solutions and related trust and custody services to holders of alternative assets through its proprietary online platform AltAccess, today announced that on July 16, 2025, the Company was notified by The Nasdaq Stock Market LLC ('Nasdaq') that, due to its continued non-compliance with the minimum $1.00 bid price requirement set forth in Nasdaq Listing Rule 5550(a)(2) and the delay in the filing of the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2025 with the Securities and Exchange Commission, in contravention of Nasdaq's periodic reporting requirement set forth in Nasdaq Listing Rule 5250(c)(1), the Company's securities were subject to delisting unless the Company timely requests a hearing before the Nasdaq Hearings Panel (the 'Panel'). The Company plans to timely request a hearing and a stay of any suspension action by Nasdaq at least pending the ultimate outcome of the hearing process and the expiration of any extension period that may be granted to the Company following the hearing. At the hearing, the Company will present its plan to evidence compliance with all applicable criteria for continued listing on The Nasdaq Capital Market and request an extension of time to do so. While the Company is taking definitive steps to evidence compliance with the applicable listing criteria as soon as practicable, there can be no assurance that the Panel will grant the Company's request for continued listing on Nasdaq. About Beneficient Beneficient (Nasdaq: BENF) – Ben, for short – is on a mission to democratize the global alternative asset investment market by providing traditionally underserved investors − mid-to-high net worth individuals, small-to-midsized institutions and General Partners seeking exit options, anchor commitments and valued-added services for their funds− with solutions that could help them unlock the value in their alternative assets. Ben's AltQuote ® tool provides customers with a range of potential exit options within minutes, while customers can log on to the AltAccess ® portal to explore opportunities and receive proposals in a secure online environment. Its subsidiary, Beneficient Fiduciary Financial, L.L.C., received its charter under the State of Kansas' Technology-Enabled Fiduciary Financial Institution (TEFFI) Act and is subject to regulatory oversight by the Office of the State Bank Commissioner. For more information, visit or follow us on LinkedIn. Contacts Forward Looking Statements This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the 'safe harbor' provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements regarding the listing and trading of the Company's securities on Nasdaq, the Company's intention to request a hearing from the Nasdaq hearing panel and the Company's intention to regain compliance with the Nasdaq Listing Rules. The words 'anticipate,' 'believe,' 'continue,' 'could,' 'estimate,' 'expect,' 'intends,' 'may,' 'might,' 'plan,' 'possible,' 'potential,' 'predict,' 'project,' 'should,' 'would' and similar expressions may identify forward-looking statements, but the absence of these words does not mean that a statement is not forward-looking. Forward-looking statements are based on our management's beliefs, as well as assumptions made by, and information currently available to, them. Because such statements are based on expectations as to future financial and operating results and are not statements of fact, actual results may differ materially from those projected. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed in the forward-looking statements include, among others, our plans to appeal Nasdaq's delisting determination; the outcome of any hearing we might request; our ability to cure any deficiencies in compliance with the Nasdaq Listing Rules; risks related to the substantial costs and diversion of management's attention and resources due to these matters and the risks, uncertainties, and factors set forth under 'Risk Factors' in the Company's most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K and its subsequently filed Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and the risks and uncertainties contained in the Company's Current Reports on Form 8-K. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date they are made. The Company assumes no obligation to update forward-looking statements to reflect actual results, subsequent events, or circumstances or other changes affecting such statements except to the extent required by applicable law. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date they are made. Readers are cautioned not to put undue reliance on forward-looking statements, and, except as required by law, the Company assumes no obligation and does not intend to update or revise these forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise.
Globe and Mail
26 minutes ago
- Globe and Mail
Union Pacific exploring Norfolk Southern rail takeover, reports say
Union Pacific, the largest U.S. freight railroad operator, is exploring a possible acquisition of Norfolk Southern to create a US$200-billion coast-to-coast rail network, a person familiar with the matter said. Talks are in early stages, the person said, with no guarantee talks will progress or that any deal would pass what would be expected to be a lengthy, detailed regulatory review. The two companies declined to comment. Any deal to unite two of the six largest freight rail operators in North America is likely to draw intense regulatory scrutiny. Major shippers in the steel, chemical and grain industries are expected to lobby against any further concentration in an industry that has consolidated from over 100 Class I railroads in the 1950s to just six today. Union Pacific UNP-N shares fell 2.7 per cent in Friday afternoon trading, while Norfolk Southern NSC-N rose 1.52 per cent. A combination would mark a shift in the U.S. freight rail landscape, creating a single-line network stretching from coast to coast, changing the current divide between western and eastern regional operators. Norfolk is recovering from a tumultuous past couple of years that included the firing of its previous CEO amid ethics investigations, a boardroom battle with activist Ancora, and a train derailment that cost the company about $1.4-billion. A merger between Union Pacific and Norfolk Southern would create the first modern West-to-East single-line freight railroad in the U.S. Earlier this year, Union Pacific CEO Jim Vena said a transcontinental merger would be good for customers, eliminating the need for interchanges between carriers in Chicago – a longstanding bottleneck – and reducing costly delays for shippers. But critics warn that such consolidation could reduce competition, a possible concern for regulators. With fewer major players in the market, shippers may face higher costs and diminished service options. 'We suspect certain shipper groups could get vocal on the perceived lost competition a merger would bring,' Barclays analyst Brandon R. Oglenski said. Discussions between the two operators, first disclosed by Semafor, spurred speculation that competitors would also consider concentration. 'History teaches that mergers and acquisitions within the railroad industry will inspire and motivate additional M&A,' said Mike Steenhoek, executive director of the Soy Transportation Coalition. That happened earlier this decade when Canadian Pacific offered to acquire Kansas City Southern, which prompted CP's main competitor – Canadian National – to submit their own offer to acquire Kansas City Southern. Ultimately the Canadian National offer was not allowed to proceed, and Canadian Pacific did acquire Kansas City Southern in 2023 – creating the first railroad to link Canada, the U.S. and Mexico. In 2024, Union Pacific led the industry with $24.3-billion in revenue, followed by BNSF (privately held, owned by Berkshire Hathaway), CSX CSX-Q, Canadian National CNR-T, Norfolk and Canadian Pacific Kansas City CP-T. 'The energy and momentum toward the remaining two U.S. based Class I railroads – BNSF and CSX – pursuing a merger would be considerable,' Steenhoek said. A regulatory decision could take 16 to 22 months, with merging carriers required to notify the Surface Transportation Board three to six months before filing an application, followed by a year-long evidentiary review and a final ruling within 90 days, Oglenski said. A potential Union Pacific acquisition of Norfolk Southern could have material synergy, he said. 'Any deal would face serious review from regulators,' said Emily Nasseff Mitsch, equity analyst at CFRA.
CBC
27 minutes ago
- CBC
American company sets up shop in Tecumseh — despite trade war
Convoy Technologies, an Indiana-based company that makes cameras for commercial vehicles, has opened a $17 million facility in Oldcastle. The company says it has hired a dozen or so locals already and plans to hire between 20 and 40 more. The province has provided more than $300,000 in support. The CBC's Emma Loop reports.
