Tesla Must Defend Lawsuit Alleging Abuse Of Foreign Workers

A federal judge has ruled that Tesla must defend itself at a trial over allegations it knew foreign workers at one of its facilities were threatened with deportation if they reported an injury and worked long shifts that violated forced labor laws.U.S. District Judge Lucy Koh, in San Jose, California, rejected on Monday Tesla’s request for an early dismissal of the lawsuit, paving the way for the plaintiffs to seek documents and witnesses to build their case. The decision comes as Tesla faces intense pressure to turn a profit and days after Chief Executive Officer Elon Musk stepped down as chairman to settle allegations by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission that he misled investors.