Tesla countersued by 'saboteur' for defamation
The Tesla ex-technician who was sued by the company in June for allegedly sabotaging the firm and making potential threats has countersued the company on claims of defamation.
TESLA
$539.60
17:39 26/03/20
"Whistleblower" Martin Tripp said Elon Musk defamed him when he told the media Tripp had threatened a mass shooting.
Tripp was sued by the company in June 2018, just days after Musk sent an e-mail saying an employee had engaged in damaging sabotage against the computer systems.
In the lawsuit, Tesla accused Tripp of hacking, theft, and making false claims to the media about punctured battery cells and excess scrap material for the Model 3 vehicle. Tripp answered back saying he was not a saboteur but a whistleblower.
Musk then told the media that Tripp had also threatened the company with a mass shooting. Although the local sheriff’s department had said on the following day that "there was no credible threat".
The counterclaim was filed in a federal court in Nevada on Tuesday and Tripp is seeking at least $1.0m and punitive damages for claims of defamation, invasion of privacy and intentional infliction of emotional distress.
The whistleblower complained he has experienced health problems such as anxiety and nausea and has trouble sleeping as a result of the company's actions.
The claim reasserts Tripps concerns over "high levels of waste and scrap", "unnerving, dangerous and wasteful business practices" and "punctured battery modules". It also alleges that Tesla never received a call saying Tripp would carry out a shooting.
"Our client, Martin Tripp, has been wronged by Tesla in more ways than one," said Robert D. Mitchell, an attorney representing Tripp.