
Elon Musk is ‘pure evil’: Ex-Tesla engineer & whistleblower
In a scathing attack, Cristina Balan, a former Tesla engineer and whistleblower, has labelled billionaire Elon Musk “pure evil” after a California judge reopened her dismissed defamation case against Tesla on April 17. Balan, who is a cancer patient, claimed she was fired in 2014 after raising concerns about a braking issue at the electric car company.
The defamation case was initially dismissed in 2019, but a California judge has now reopened the case, allowing Balan to move forward with her claims. Balan’s allegations against Musk and Tesla are serious, and her claim that she was fired for speaking up about a potentially dangerous issue at the company has raised concerns about the treatment of whistleblowers at Tesla.
Balan’s story is a remarkable one. She joined Tesla in 2013 as a software engineer and quickly became concerned about a braking issue with the company’s Autopilot system. Autopilot is a semi-autonomous driving system that is designed to assist drivers with steering, acceleration, and braking. However, Balan discovered that the system was not functioning properly, and she raised her concerns with her superiors at Tesla.
Despite her concerns, Balan was allegedly met with resistance and dismissal by her superiors. She was eventually fired in 2014, shortly after she raised her concerns about the braking issue. Balan has claimed that she was fired in retaliation for speaking up about the issue, and she has accused Musk and Tesla of prioritizing profits over safety.
Balan’s claims have been corroborated by other whistleblowers who have come forward with similar allegations. In 2018, a former Tesla employee filed a lawsuit against the company, alleging that he was fired after raising concerns about the safety of the Autopilot system. The lawsuit claimed that Tesla’s Autopilot system was defective and that the company was aware of the issue but failed to take action to fix it.
The reopening of Balan’s defamation case against Tesla is a significant development, and it has raised concerns about the company’s treatment of whistleblowers. The case is also a reminder of the importance of protecting whistleblowers who come forward with concerns about safety and ethics.
In a statement, Balan said, “I started this lawsuit to prove my innocence and…how vindictive this monster is.” Her comments are a scathing attack on Musk and Tesla, and they suggest that the company’s treatment of whistleblowers is unacceptable.
Musk has not commented on the reopening of Balan’s defamation case, but his company has denied her allegations. In a statement, Tesla said, “We do not tolerate retaliation or discrimination against our employees, and we take all allegations of retaliation seriously.”
The reopening of Balan’s defamation case is a significant development, and it highlights the importance of protecting whistleblowers who come forward with concerns about safety and ethics. The case is also a reminder of the need for stronger laws and regulations to protect whistleblowers and to hold companies accountable for their actions.
In conclusion, the case of Cristina Balan is a remarkable one, and it highlights the importance of protecting whistleblowers who come forward with concerns about safety and ethics. The reopening of her defamation case against Tesla is a significant development, and it suggests that the company’s treatment of whistleblowers is unacceptable. The case is also a reminder of the need for stronger laws and regulations to protect whistleblowers and to hold companies accountable for their actions.
Sources: