Elon Musk Says 'Local Negativity' in California Will Prevent a Fair Jury Trial. He Wants to Move His Court Date to This State Instead. Attorneys for the billionaire CEO claim he received extreme backlash following his chaotic Twitter deal.

By Amanda Breen

Anadolu Agency | Getty Images

Twitter owner and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk knows that some people aren't his biggest fans — and he's concerned about what that means for his upcoming jury trial over alleged Tesla stock manipulation.

Citing "local negativity" in California, where Tesla headquarters once resided, attorneys for the electric car manufacturer and Elon Musk are asking a federal judge in San Francisco to move or delay the impending trial from Northern California to Western Texas, CNBC reported.

Related: Tesla Investors Tweet to Complain About Elon Musk and Twitter

Musk and several current and former Tesla board members will go before a jury in a shareholder class action that alleges the billionaire businessman manipulated Tesla's stock in 2018 when Musk tweeted he had "funding secured" to take the company private at $420 per share.

Afterward, Tesla shares were erratic for weeks following an initial pause on trading.

Musk later reached a settlement with the Securities and Exchange Commission, which a lawyer for the billionaire subsequently called a "government-imposed muzzle," per NBC News.

The Tesla CEO moved to Texas in 2020 and relocated the electric vehicle company to Austin in 2021.

Related: Elon Musk's Twitter 2.0: 'Long Hours, High Intensity' for Workers

Attorneys representing Musk and Tesla claim that the CEO has received extremely negative publicity in California due to his October 2022 Twitter takeover, which resulted in the volatile elimination of thousands of employees.
Amanda Breen

BIZ Experiences Staff

Senior Features Writer

Amanda Breen is a senior features writer at BIZ Experiences.com. She is a graduate of Barnard College and received an MFA in writing at Columbia University, where she was a news fellow for the School of the Arts.

Want to be an BIZ Experiences Leadership Network contributor? Apply now to join.

Editor's Pick

Most Popular

See all
Business Ideas

70 Small Business Ideas to Start in 2025

We put together a list of the best, most profitable small business ideas for BIZ Experiencess to pursue in 2025.

By Eve Gumpel
Science & Technology

OpenAI's Latest Move Is a Game Changer — Here's How Smart Solopreneurs Are Turning It Into Profit

OpenAI's latest AI tool acts like a full-time assistant, helping solopreneurs save time, find leads and grow their business without hiring.

By Ben Angel
Money & Finance

These Are the Expected Retirement Ages By Generation, From Gen Z to Boomers — and the Average Savings Anticipated. How Do Yours Compare?

Many Americans say inflation prevents them from saving enough and fear they won't reach their financial goals.

By Amanda Breen
Social Media

How To Start a Youtube Channel: Step-by-Step Guide

YouTube can be a valuable way to grow your audience. If you're ready to create content, read more about starting a business YouTube Channel.

By Jason R. Rich
Starting a Business

I Built a $20 Million Company by Age 22 While Still in College. Here's How I Did It and What I Learned Along the Way.

Wealth-building in your early twenties isn't about playing it safe; it's about exploiting the one time in life when having nothing to lose gives you everything to gain.

By Emil Barr
Business Solutions

Boost Team Productivity and Security With Windows 11 Pro, Now $15 for Life

Ideal for BIZ Experiencess and small-business owners who are looking to streamline their PC setup.

By BIZ Experiences Store