Aug 25 (Reuters) - Billionaire Elon Musk's electric

vehicle company Tesla rejected a $60 million settlement

proposal in a lawsuit over the 2019 fatal crash of an

Autopilot-equipped Model S before a jury this month awarded a

$243 million verdict in the case.

Lawyers for the plaintiffs disclosed the settlement proposal

in a filing on Monday in the federal court in Miami, Florida, as

part of a request for legal fees from Tesla.

They said Florida law entitles them to the legal fees the

plaintiffs accrued since May 30, when the settlement was

proposed.

Tesla and a lawyer representing the company in the case did

not immediately respond to requests for comment. Attorneys for

the plaintiffs had no immediate comment.

The trial focused on an April 2019 crash involving a 2019

Model S featuring Autopilot driver-assistance software. The

driver's Tesla struck the victims' parked Chevrolet Tahoe as

they were standing beside it on a shoulder.

Jurors awarded the estate of Naibel Benavides Leon, who was

killed, and her boyfriend Dillon Angulo, who was seriously

injured, a combined $129 million in compensatory damages, plus

$200 million in punitive damages. Tesla was held liable for 33%

of the compensatory damages, or $42.6 million, and all of the

punitive damages.

Jurors found the driver liable for 67% of the compensatory

damages, but he was not a defendant.

Tesla has denied any wrongdoing, and said the verdict "only

works to set back automotive safety and jeopardize Tesla's and

the entire industry's efforts to develop and implement

life-saving technology." Tesla has said it will appeal.

The plaintiffs' lawyers have said the trial was the first

involving the wrongful death of a third party resulting from

Autopilot.

Tesla has faced similar lawsuits over its vehicles'

self-driving capabilities, but they have been resolved or

dismissed without getting to trial.