HOUSTON — A lawsuit alleging a Tesla's Autopilot system failure led to the vehicle crashing into police at a traffic stop has been set for trial next August.
In September 2021, Dalton Fields, Rai Duenas, Kenneth Barnett, Chris Taylor and Daniel Santiago filed a complaint in Harris County District Court against Tesla and Pappas Restaurants, alleging negligence and other claims.
According to the original petition, the plaintiffs, who are police officers, pulled over a vehicle on Eastex Freeway for a traffic stop on Feb. 27, 2021. They allege that while searching the vehicle for suspicion of possession of narcotics, a 2019 Model X Tesla going about 70 MPH that was on Autopilot plowed into the scene and caused them to suffer serious injuries.
Court records show the case was set for trial in August. However, a joint agreed motion for continuance was filed on March 3, stating that the parties have not yet completed discovery. An agreed third amended docket control order was then entered, slating the case for trial on Aug. 5, 2024.
The plaintiffs claim the vehicle did not apply its "emergency braking" and that it was unable to detect the four vehicles, six people and the police dog fully stopped in the lane of traffic. They further claim the driver of the Tesla had consumed alcohol at Pappasito's and was intoxicated.
The plaintiffs seek monetary relief of more than $1 million, interest and all other just relief.
Harris County District Court case number 2021-62207