A former Tesla engineer turned whistleblower, has secured a significant legal victory in her long-standing battle against Elon Musk’s electric vehicle company.
Cristina Balan, who raised red flags in 2014 about a design flaw that could potentially compromise Tesla cars’ braking systems, was dismissed from her role shortly after voicing her concerns. She later filed a defamation claim, arguing that Tesla’s actions harmed her reputation. While her case appeared to have stalled following an arbitration ruling in Tesla’s favor, a California appeals panel has now revived it, giving her a fresh chance to bring the company to court.
Speaking to the BBC, Balan expressed renewed determination to hold Musk and Tesla accountable in a public courtroom. “We are hoping we will start a new lawsuit and have the chance to take on Elon Musk in front of a jury and judge,” she said.
Tesla has not issued any official comment on the development.
