Tesla CEO Elon Musk did not defame British cave diver Vernon Unsworth by calling him a "pedo guy" in a tweet last year, a jury in Los Angeles ruled on Friday.
Unsworth had sued Musk for defamation in September 2018 after the latter referred to him as "pedo guy" in a tweet sent shortly after the former had helped rescue 12 boys and their soccer coach from a flooded Thai cave. This week, Unsworth testified that the tweet made him feel "humiliated, ashamed, dirty," CNN reported.
Musk had involved himself in the Thai cave rescue by instructing his employees to build a mini-submarine to help save the boys. In an interview to CNN, Unsworth had dismissed the suggestion, following which the tech billionaire fired off his "pedo guy" tweet.
Unsworth had sought USD 190 billion from Musk -- USD 5 million in actual damages, USD 35 million in assumed damages and USD150 million in punitive damages.
The jury took less than two hours to decide that Musk did not defame Unsworth with the tweet.
"My faith in humanity is restored," Musk said as he was leaving the courtroom on Friday after the verdict was announced.
Disclaimer: No Business Standard Journalist was involved in creation of this content
You’ve reached your limit of {{free_limit}} free articles this month.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
Already subscribed? Log in
Subscribe to read the full story →
Smart Quarterly
₹900
3 Months
₹300/Month
Smart Essential
₹2,700
1 Year
₹225/Month
Super Saver
₹3,900
2 Years
₹162/Month
Renews automatically, cancel anytime
Here’s what’s included in our digital subscription plans
Exclusive premium stories online
Over 30 premium stories daily, handpicked by our editors
Complimentary Access to The New York Times
News, Games, Cooking, Audio, Wirecutter & The Athletic
Business Standard Epaper
Digital replica of our daily newspaper — with options to read, save, and share
Curated Newsletters
Insights on markets, finance, politics, tech, and more delivered to your inbox
Market Analysis & Investment Insights
In-depth market analysis & insights with access to The Smart Investor
Archives
Repository of articles and publications dating back to 1997
Ad-free Reading
Uninterrupted reading experience with no advertisements
Seamless Access Across All Devices
Access Business Standard across devices — mobile, tablet, or PC, via web or app