Tesla has settled a wrongful death lawsuit brought by the family of Walter Huang, an Apple engineer who died in a 2018 crash involving his Model X SUV with Autopilot features engaged. The National Transportation Safety Board determined that Tesla’s technology, along with possible driver distraction and road construction issues, played a role in the collision. Huang’s family sued Tesla for wrongful death, focusing on alleged safety and design defects in the company’s driver assistance systems. Internal Tesla e-mails referenced in court filings revealed complacency among executives and engineers while driving with Autopilot engaged.
The settlement, reached as jury selection and a trial were about to begin, allows Tesla to avoid further scrutiny in a high-profile case. Court filings suggested that Tesla had marketed Autopilot as making vehicles safe to drive without the need for constant attention or hands on the steering wheel. Tesla attorneys had argued that Huang was an inattentive driver who was playing mobile games on his phone at the time of the crash. The company requested that the settlement amount be sealed to prevent it from being perceived as evidence of potential liability in future cases.
If Tesla had been found liable in part or in whole for Huang’s death, it could have had significant implications for the company in other product liability suits. CEO Elon Musk had previously declared that Tesla would not seek victory in a just case against them or settle an unjust case, even if they would probably lose. The settlement reached to end years of litigation has not been disclosed to the public, with the company citing concerns about settlement opportunities in subsequent cases.
Tesla lead attorneys did not comment on the settlement, and attorneys for the Huang family did not respond to requests for comment. The settlement comes after the NTSB investigation into the fatal crash and ongoing concerns about the safety and quality of Tesla’s driver assistance systems. The case had raised questions about Tesla’s culture and attitudes toward safety, potentially impacting the company’s perception among shareholders and customers. The settlement aims to bring closure to a tragic event that has been under legal scrutiny for several years.
