Tesla Is Suing Alleged Saboteur for $167 Million

Bottom Line

Tesla wants Martin Tripp to pay for the damage he allegedly did to the company. And it's asking for big bucks.

Tripp is the former employee Elon Musk accused of attempting to sabotage Tesla back in June. At that time, we knew Tesla filed a lawsuit against Tripp, but we didn't know the exact amount the company was seeking in damages. Now we do: a whopping $167 million.

Payback Time

According to Tesla's lawsuit, while working for the company as a process engineer, Tripp hacked Tesla’s computer systems, exported data illegally, and told lies to journalists about the company. Those lies included assertions about Tesla's use of faulty batteries in cars and millions of dollars in material waste.

Based on recent legal filings first reported on by CNBC, Tesla believes Tripp should pay $167 million for the damage his actions inflicted upon the company's stock price and reputation. Tesla has yet to comment on CNBC's report, but Tripp's attorney, Robert D. Mitchell, told the outlet he believed Tesla's damage claims were "absurd."

Tight-Lipped

As an added twist, Tesla is apparently fighting back against Tripp's legal team's deposition requests.

"Tesla has objected to Mr. Tripp's desire to take more than ten depositions... In this case, where Mr. Tripp is being sued for more than $167,000,000 and has asserted counterclaims against Tesla, more than ten depositions is certainly reasonable and appropriate," Tripp's lawyers wrote in a November case report viewed by CNBC.

Depositions are a litigation tool in which a witness provides sworn, out-of-court oral testimony a legal team can then transcribe and use as part of its court case. This testimony could make or break Tripp's defense, so the court's ruling on his deposition requests in Tesla's lawsuit might determine whether or not he ends up owing the company nothing — or $167 million.

More on Martin Tripp: Don’t Mess With the Musk: Elon Sues Ex-Employee for Spilling Tesla Secrets

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