From WHYY: Musk calm, but does not hold back in Tesla-Solar City trial

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File photo from state court system of courtroom where Tesla trial is conducted. Delaware does not allow cameras in courtrooms.
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Cris Barrish and Mark Eichmann

The business magnate was calm and composed in court Monday, even when calling his legal antagonist “a bad human being.”

The man on the witness stand was Elon Musk. He’s the entrepreneur and visionary who co-founded the Tesla electric car company and the SpaceX exploration enterprise, among other ventures. Musk is also one of the world’s wealthiest humans, prone to loquaciousness and confrontation. All eyes were on the South African-born entrepreneur when he appeared Monday in Delaware Chancery Court before more than 50 lawyers and reporters and a few fans.

File photo from state court system of courtroom where Tesla trial is conducted. Delaware does not allow cameras in courtrooms.

For three hours in the morning session, Musk described his path (through the University of Pennsylvania) to becoming a billionaire and defended himself against accusations of self-dealing in a lawsuit brought by some Tesla shareholders.

Musk’s testimony could continue into Tuesday, said Randy Baron, the shareholders’ attorney. Baron was the subject of Musk’s disdain Monday and during a June 2019 deposition in the case that was delayed because of the coronavirus pandemic.

The lawsuit centers on whether Musk exerted undue influence on the Tesla board when it bought solar power company SolarCity for $2.6 billion in 2016. Musk is CEO of Tesla and was board chairman at SolarCity.

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Click on the headline link below for the full story from WHYY.

Elon Musk takes the stage in Wilmington courtroom and doesn’t hold back

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