Tesla is suing former employee Martin Tripp for more than $167 million (TSLA)
- Tesla is suing former employee Martin Tripp for over $167 million, according to a legal filing from Tripp's defense team.
- Robert Mitchell, an attorney for Tiffany and Bosco who is representing Tripp, told Business Insider that Tesla's damage claims are "absurd."
- Tripp has alleged that Tesla used batteries with puncture holes in vehicles meant for consumers and overreported production of its Model 3 sedan.
- Tesla has denied Tripp's claims.
- Tesla sued Tripp in June, alleging that he hacked confidential company information and gave it to parties outside the company.
Tesla is suing former employee Martin Tripp for over $167 million, according to a legal filing from Tripp's defense team.
Robert Mitchell, an attorney for Tiffany and Bosco who is representing Tripp, told Business Insider that Tesla's damage claims of over $167 million are "absurd."
Tesla and the law firms representing the automaker, Jackson Lewis and Hueston Hennigan, did not respond to requests for comment.
Read more: Ex-Tesla employee Martin Tripp posted dozens of photos that he alleges came from inside Tesla
According to a November 27 filing, Tripp's attorneys intend to depose Tesla CEO Elon Musk, as first reported by CNBC. Tesla's attorneys pushed back against that request in a filing also submitted on November 27.
"Mr. Musk has personal knowledge of facts relevant to the lawsuit," Tripp's attorneys said.
Tesla's attorneys argued that deposing Musk, Tesla's highest-ranking employee, could lead to "abuse or harassment."
Tripp told Business Insider earlier this year that Tesla used batteries with puncture holes in vehicles meant for consumers. Tesla denies this claim.
Tripp also filed a tip with the SEC in which he claimed the automaker had overreported production of its Model 3 sedan by up to 44%, according to The Washington Post. Tesla denied Tripp's claims.
In June, Tesla filed a lawsuit against Tripp, alleging that he hacked confidential company information and gave it to parties outside the company. Tripp filed a countersuit in August denying Tesla's allegations and accusing the company of defamation.
In August, Tripp published on Twitter photos that he claimed supported the allegations he has made. Tripp's Twitter account was later removed from the site.
Have a Tesla news tip? Contact this reporter at mmatousek@businessinsider.com.
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