Court petitions for jury's decision reversal in Tesla crash case, asserting that statements concerning Musk may have manipulated verdict

In a recent development, Tesla has asked a federal court in Miami to overturn a $243 million damage award given to victims of a fatal crash. The request comes after a jury found that the speeding Tesla driver was mostly to blame but also held Tesla responsible due to faulty technology.

The crash, which involved a Tesla equipped with Autopilot features, occurred last year. George McGee, the driver in question, testified that he trusted the technology too much and believed it would provide warnings and apply the brakes if something was in front of the car. However, McGee admitted to looking for a dropped cellphone while driving, disregarding Tesla's warnings to keep his eyes on the road and hands on the wheel.

The plaintiff lawyers claimed that Tesla's use of the term "Autopilot" is misleading, suggesting the system can drive the car itself, while other automakers use terms like "driver assist" and "copilot" to prevent driver reliance. European regulators have expressed similar concerns, questioning whether Tesla's word choices mislead drivers.

Tesla argues that opposing lawyers misled the jury by introducing irrelevant evidence suggesting Tesla hid or lost data. The company also stated that the technology had nothing to do with the crash.

The case is being closely watched by carmakers developing self-driving features, fearing potential liability risks. It's worth noting that Tesla is still waiting for approval from European regulators for a more advanced version of Autopilot, which Elon Musk calls Full-Self Driving.

This is not the first time Tesla has faced criticism over its Autopilot system. Earlier this year, Tesla faced boycotts and protests after Musk embraced extreme right-wing politicians in Europe. Microsoft also fired two workers as the conflict over Israel ties intensified.

In another unrelated development, a salmonella outbreak tied to recalled eggs has sickened 95 people, including in Washington state.

Meanwhile, the administrative judge in California is hearing a case in which the state motor vehicles department is seeking to withdraw Tesla's license to sell cars partly because of what it says are misleading names. The plaintiff lawyers had offered to settle for $60 million, but Tesla refused.

As the legal battles continue, Tesla's stock fell nearly 3.5% on Friday, following a previous day's drop due to sales figures from Europe showing car buyers are avoiding Tesla. The company will undoubtedly face more challenges in the future as it navigates the complex world of autonomous driving technology.

Court petitions for jury's decision reversal in Tesla crash case, asserting that statements concerning Musk may have manipulated verdict