A group of Tesla shareholders suing CEO Elon Musk over some 2018 tweets about taking the company private is asking a judge to order Musk to stop commenting on the case. Read to know more.
Tesla stockholders sue Musk
Lawyers for Tesla stockholders are stating that the judge ruled that Musk’s tweets about securing funds for taking Tesla private were false. Additionally, the ruling states that the tweets violate a 2018 settlement with US regulators. According to it, Musk and Tesla, each agreed to pay fines worth $20 million. On Thursday, in a 2022 TED conference interview Musk stated that he had funding to take Tesla private in 2018. Calling the Securities and Exchange Commission a profane name, he stated agreeing to settle. But, only because bankers stated that they will not continue providing capital. Hence, settling ensure that Tesla will not go bankrupt.
In the recently filed court documents, lawyers of Tesla shareholders are alleging that Muk is attempting to influence potential jurors. Contending the controversial tweets on taking the EV firm private at $420 per share by manipulating the stock prices will cost the shareholders. “Musk’s comments risk confusing potential jurors with the false narrative that he did not knowingly make misrepresentations with his Aug. 7, 2018 tweets,” they stated. “His present statements on that issue, an unsubtle attempt to absolve himself in the court of public opinion, will only have a prejudicial influence on a jury,” added the lawyers.
More on the lawsuit
Additionally, lawyers are requesting Edward M Chen, a federal Judge in Sanfransisco to restrain Musk from making public comments until the trial ends. The judge gave Musk’s lawyers until Wednesday for responding on the matter. “Nothing will ever change the truth, which is that Elon Musk was considering taking Tesla private and could have,” stated Alex Spiro. Spiro is a lawyer representing Elon Musk. “All that’s left some half-decade later is random plaintiffs lawyers trying to make a buck and others trying to block that truth from coming to light, all to the detriment of free speech,” he added. (Xanax bars)
The interview and court action followed days after Musk’s controversial offer of taking over Twitter. He was planning to turn the firm private with a $43 billion offer, making each share worth $54.20. However, Twitter’s board on Friday adopted a poison pill strategy. Hence ensuring that it will be expensive for Musk to buy shares.