Florida AG asks appeals court to erase Tesla's $243M Autopilot verdict

Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier filed a brief on July 9, 2026 in Tesla's 11th Circuit appeal of the $243 million Autopilot verdict, joined by Alabama and Georgia. The brief asks the court to reverse and enter judgment for Tesla, or to cut the $200 million punitive award to three times compensatory damages. The appeal is pending, so the verdict stands for now.

• Brief filed July 9, 2026 in 11th Circuit case No. 26-10858
• Asks for reversal or new trial; alternatively cut punitive damages
• Punitive award of $200M sought to be reduced to three times compensatory damages
• Total verdict $243M; Tesla liability share 33%