Tesla was back in scrutiny after the US court authorized the reopening of a lawsuit filed by a former employee. Cristina Balan, the company’s former engineer, accuses Elon Musk and the administration of the retaliation and intimidation electric car manufacturer, after identifying and denouncing a potential safety failure at Model S.
According to Computer Hoy, the engineer will have alerted the internal team to the risk of car rugs interfere with the pedals, which, in his view, could compromise the braking system.
The complaint was not only ignored, but resulted in its removal from duties.
Ignored complaint and alleged retaliation
Cristina Balan claims that she was discouraged to insist on the subject and later pressured to leave the company.
According to the same source, the complaint was made following instructions given by Elon Musk himself, who encouraged engineers to directly report the problems considered serious.
Nevertheless, he claims to have been the target of internal persecution and later involved in a disciplinary process that accused her of diversion of funds, something he categorically denies.
Threats to the team and intimidation climate
The former employee also reveals that members of her team, some with an irregular immigration situation, will have been threatened with deportation if they supported their complaint.
It writes the computer Hoy that these allegations were now formally admitted in the new phase of the case, which runs in court in the United States.
In a statement to The Times, Balan described Elon Musk as “pure evil” and “a monster”, accusing him of destroying careers and silencing internal criticism of leadership and production processes.
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Case relaunched after court decision
The initial process for defamation and work retaliation had been filed for formal issues related to legal deadlines.
However, a new decision allowed the case to reopen, which returns visibility to the allegations and again puts Musk at the center of a controversy that brings together work issues, automobile safety and freedom of expression.
According to the same source, Balan wants the case to serve as an example for other technological companies and to create clearer mechanisms for protection to complainants.
History of controversy in the internal culture of Tesla
This is not the first case in which Tesla is criticized for its organizational culture.
Over the past few years, public allegations of racism, mass discharge, excessive surveillance over workers and working conditions considered unsustainable have been made public.
Refers to The Times that, although Elon Musk denied many of these accusations, the reports have been frequent and, in many cases, led to the opening of lawsuits and internal investigations.
Denounce failures without fear of reprisals
For Cristina Balan, the case represents more than an individual dispute. “Speaking openly should not be a risk,” he said.
The former agent believes that the technology industry needs to review its response mechanisms to internal complaints and ensure that those who report failure is not penalized.
According to, the new process could open an important precedent in the United States, influencing future judicial decisions related to work retaliation in large technological companies.
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