Autonomous Vehicle Catastrophe Data Retrieved by Tesla Cybercriminal in Deadly $243 Million Collision
In a groundbreaking legal battle, a well-known firmware hacker and data miner, known as @greentheonly, played a crucial role in a major dispute against Tesla. The case, which arose from a fatal collision involving a Tesla Model S with Autopilot engaged, has set a precedent for how juries view Tesla's handling of evidence.
The collision occurred near Key Largo, Florida in 2019, resulting in the death of 22-year-old Naibel Benavides Leon and severe injuries to her boyfriend, Dillon Angulo. Despite initial denials, @greentheonly's intervention uncovered critical crash data that Tesla had previously claimed it did not have.
Working out of a Starbucks near Miami International Airport, hundreds of miles away from the crash site, @greentheonly successfully extracted the data from the vehicle's Autopilot control unit. His findings confirmed that Tesla had received the crash snapshot within moments of the wreck, a fact that should have been accessible all along according to the court's ruling.
The recovered data showed that the Tesla vehicle detected the pedestrians. However, the vehicle plotted a path directly through them, raising questions about Autopilot's performance. Tesla initially offered a confidential settlement before the trial, but the plaintiffs declined.
Court documents also show that Tesla refused a $60 million settlement proposal before the trial concluded. The jury ultimately awarded $129 million in compensatory damages and $200 million in punitive damages, totaling $243 million. Tesla is responsible for the entire punitive award and 33% of the compensatory damages, amounting to $42.6 million.
The $243 million judgment is one of the biggest legal setbacks yet involving Autopilot for Tesla. The verdict underscores the importance of transparency around Tesla's Autopilot system and sets a precedent for future cases involving the technology.
The case against Tesla was first brought to light in 2024, after years of unsuccessful attempts to obtain the data through Tesla. The plaintiffs' attorneys turned to @greentheonly for help, and his discovery ultimately turned the tide in court, leading to the significant verdict.
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