Wikimedia Creative Commons by Daniel Oberhaus
A judge this week refused to throw out a lawsuit filed by an Indian American student against Tesla founder Elon Musk, reports the Business Insider.
Randeep Hothi sued Musk saying he defamed him when Musk accused Hothi of “nearly killing Tesla employees.”
Hothi is a short seller, a frequent critic of Musk and currently a doctorate student at the University of Michigan in Asian languages, according to News 18.
Tesla employees spotted Hothi several times at its factory and showrooms while he investigated Tesla. The Business Insider reported Musk accused Hothi of harassing his employees and coming within six inches of killing one of them when he sideswiped the employee’s vehicle.
Hothi said the accusations caused him to be harassed and claims he will suffer a loss of wages due to Musk’s remarks.
According to East Mojo, Judge Julia Span of Alameda County Superior Court near San Francisco ruled Wednesday Hothi showed he could win his defamation suit and rejected Musk’s motion to throw the case out.
At one time Tesla also filed a temporary restraining order against Hothi, but later backed away from its request.
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