New York (AFP)
Elon Musk, the boss of automaker Tesla, will have to defend himself from accusations of defamation before a jury for qualifying a British speleologist pedophile, tried a court in Los Angeles.
According to this decision issued Monday, the trial is scheduled to begin December 3 in Los Angeles.
Elon Musk lashed out at Vernon Unsworth in the summer of 2018. He called a "publicity stunt" the failed bid by the boss of Tesla to send a miniature submarine to help rescue 12 young people. footballers and their coach, trapped by the rising waters as they explored a Thai cave.
Following a quarrel by media, Elon Musk had used on Twitter the term "pedo" ("pedo guy") to refer to Mr. Unsworth, 64, who lives part of the year in Thailand
Musk wanted to avoid a lawsuit, arguing that his tweets against the caver were insults, not assertions.
But the judge, Stephen Wilson, felt that Tesla's boss's statements after his controversial publication suggested he thought his accusations were well-founded.
Mr. Wilson also considered that the complainant was not a public figure of his own free will, which simplifies his approach to prove that he was indeed a victim of defamation.
Mr. Unsworth will therefore have to show that Mr. Musk was negligent in publishing his charges but will not have to prove that the billionaire contractor had a clear intention to harm him.
"We are looking forward to the trial," said Mr Musk's lawyer Alex Spiro.
© 2019 AFP