SAN FRANCISCO – A federal judge in California has rejected a lawsuit for securities fraud and defamation filed by a Tesla investor against CEO Elon Musk, one of Musk and Tesla’s supporters.
In an order filed Thursday, Judge James Donato dismissed a lawsuit from investor Aaron Greenspan, who runs a legal documents website. Donato wrote that the case had failed to make credible legal claims.
Donato had previously dismissed the case in June, but he offered Greenspan the opportunity to file another complaint on federal legal matters. The judge wrote that defamation lawsuits filed under California law would be heard later, as justified. In Thursday’s order, Donato rejected Greenspan’s entire case, which was originally filed in 2020.
Among other things, the lawsuit alleges that Omar Kazi, a Musk fan, slandered Greenspan in a series of tweets alleging him. Greenspan claims the tweets are part of a campaign of 80,000 coordinated tweets that praise Tesla and attack critics.
Donato ruled that Greenspan had not provided evidence to support his allegations that Kazi had acted as an agent for Tesla or Musk. Kazi had previously called the allegations “absurd,” and Tesla’s lawyers have challenged Greenspan’s allegations as conspiracy theories.
Judge dismisses fraud and defamation lawsuit against Elon Musk, Tesla and Twitter fan
