Tesla(US:TSLA) Business Insider·2025-09-17 16:53Core Viewpoint - Tesla has reached a conditional settlement in a lawsuit related to a fatal crash involving its Autopilot system, avoiding a jury trial just weeks before it was set to begin [1][2]. Group 1: Settlement Details - The settlement documents were filed in Alameda County Superior Court, and the specifics of the settlement remain confidential as per the family's attorneys [2]. - The lawsuit involved a 15-year-old boy who was killed in a 2019 collision when a Tesla Model 3 rear-ended his father's pickup truck while Autopilot was engaged [8][9]. Group 2: Previous Legal Context - This settlement follows a recent Florida federal jury verdict that found Tesla partly responsible for a separate Autopilot-related crash, resulting in $329 million in total damages, with Tesla liable for $242.5 million [3]. - Tesla's legal team has criticized the Florida verdict, arguing that the driver, not the Autopilot system, was responsible for the crash [4]. Group 3: Autopilot Technology - Tesla's Autopilot system allows vehicles to steer, switch lanes, brake, and accelerate independently, but the company emphasizes that it is intended for use with an attentive driver ready to take control [5]. - The California lawsuit accused Tesla of negligence and design defects in its Autopilot technology, while Tesla contended that the driver was responsible for the vehicle's operation [9][10]. Group 4: Legal History - Tesla has faced multiple lawsuits regarding its Autopilot system and has settled several cases, including a wrongful-death lawsuit from the family of an Apple engineer who died in a 2018 crash while using Autopilot [11].