This archive report was first published on 20 November 2019.
US District Judge Stephen V. Wilson in Los Angeles has dealt a significant blow to tech billionaire Elon Musk, rejecting his attempt to dismiss a defamation lawsuit brought by British cave explorer Vernon Unsworth.
Unsworth, who was involved in the high-profile rescue of a Thai youth soccer team trapped in a cave in 2018, sued Musk in September of that year after the billionaire accused him of being a 'pedo guy' on Twitter.
According to the judge's 18-page order, Unsworth is not a public figure, which means he will only need to prove that Musk acted negligently to recover damages. The case is set to go to trial on December 3.
Unsworth's lawyer, L. Lin Wood, said the ruling sends a strong message: 'Don't do this,' and to Musk: 'Don't do it again.'
Musk's lawyer, Alex Spiro, responded by saying, 'We look forward to the trial.'
Unsworth has denied all of Musk's accusations, including a suggestion that he had a child bride. The case is seeking damages in excess of $75,000.
