The California Civil Rights Department (CRD) has initiated a bench trial against Tesla in Alameda County Superior Court. The lawsuit represents more than 6,000 Black workers at the company’s Fremont factory, alleging a pattern of racism. The proceedings are expected to continue through October, with potential damages currently uncapped.
During the opening of the trial, testimony revealed that a senior Tesla in-house attorney, Timothy Kim, contacted a witness, Ryan Edwards, who was already represented by counsel. Edwards testified that he believed Kim was working for the state during their 30-minute conversation. The CRD has requested that the judge bar Tesla’s counsel from contacting witnesses on the agency’s list.
The CRD alleges that Tesla’s legal team may have influenced other potential witnesses, noting that at least four individuals have become unreachable. The agency claims these actions could involve payments or persuasion to prevent testimony. Judge Peter Borkon has instructed the CRD to file a formal motion if they wish to pursue an order restricting such contact.
Tesla’s defense counsel, Tyree P. Jones Jr., argued that the company maintains strict conduct policies and has created 20,000 jobs in Fremont. During his opening statement, Jones suggested that the racial slur at the center of the allegations is used as a term of endearment within the Black community. The defense maintains that there is no basis for an injunction against the company.
