Tesla CEO Elon Musk’s ongoing legal dispute with a group of disgruntled Dogecoin investors has taken another turn as his attorneys argue that the lawsuit has been dragging on for too long. In a recent filing submitted to a New York federal court, Musk’s legal team requested the dismissal of the plaintiff’s revised complaint, claiming that it is an example of abusive and belligerent litigation tactics. Lead attorney Evan Spencer, representing the class-action lawsuit against Elon Musk, made a third amendment to the complaint in June, introducing additional allegations.
Lengthy legal battle forces prompt dismissal from Elon Musk’s lawyers
Initially seeking $258 billion in damages when filed last June, the lawsuit accuses Musk of engaging in “market manipulation, insider trading, and carnival barking” about the popular meme coin in the cryptocurrency world. Elon Musk’s affinity for Dogecoin has been well-documented over the years, dating back to his initial tweet in April 2019 when he referred to Dogecoin as his favorite cryptocurrency. His interest continued to grow following his acquisition of Twitter.
Notably, Musk’s recent involvement with Dogecoin included a playful stunt where Twitter’s logo was temporarily replaced with Dogecoin’s Shiba Inu mascot, causing the cryptocurrency’s value to rally by 30%. Despite the rollercoaster ride of Dogecoin’s value, Musk’s legal team asserts that his support for the cryptocurrency through tweets and humor is entirely lawful and amounts to mere “puffery.” They argue that expressing support for a cryptocurrency or sharing amusing images related to it does not constitute unlawful behavior.
Heated exchanges and allegations mark an escalation of the lawsuit
Musk’s lawyers further contend that the allegations presented in the lawsuit are unfounded. They assert that the claims are based on the sale of Dogecoin from digital wallets not directly linked to Musk or Tesla. Additionally, they challenge the assertion that Musk’s statements about Dogecoin were materially false or misleading. U.S. District Judge Alvin Hellerstein, who presides over the case, set a deadline for Musk’s legal team to respond to the amended complaint by Monday.
The attorneys representing the Dogecoin investors are expected to file their opposition to the motion for dismissal by early September, according to court proceedings. The legal battle has escalated into a heated exchange between the two sides. Spencer accused Musk’s legal team of employing “dirty tactics” after a New York Post article cited a letter written by one of Musk’s lawyers, Alex Spiro. Spencer alleged that this was an attempt to unfairly influence the lawsuit in favor of Elon Musk’s side.
In response, Elon Musk’s lawyers strongly refuted these claims, asserting that Spencer’s allegations were baseless and suggesting that Spencer’s conduct was questionable. As the case continues to unfold, it remains to be seen how the court will ultimately rule on the motion for dismissal and the validity of the allegations presented by the Dogecoin investors. The legal battle underscores the complex intersection between cryptocurrency enthusiasm, market behavior, and the boundaries of lawful expression in the digital age.
