Karl Hansen v. Elon Musk

FOR PUBLICATION

UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS

FOR THE NINTH CIRCUIT

KARL HANSEN, No. 23-15296

Plaintiff-Appellant, D.C. No. 3:19-cv-00413- v. LRH-CSD

ELON MUSK; TESLA MOTORS,

INC.; U.S. SECURITIES OPINION

ASSOCIATES, INC.,

Defendants-Appellees.

Appeal from the United States District Court for the District of Nevada Larry R. Hicks, District Judge, Presiding

Argued and Submitted May 14, 2024 Pasadena, California

Filed December 10, 2024

Before: Daniel P. Collins, Holly A. Thomas, and Anthony D. Johnstone, Circuit Judges.

Opinion by Judge H.A. Thomas; Partial Concurrence and Partial Dissent by Judge Collins SUMMARY *

Sarbanes-Oxley Act

The panel affirmed the district court’s order dismissing a complaint alleging whistleblower retaliation claims. Karl Hansen sued Tesla, Inc., its CEO, and U.S. Security Associates, alleging that they retaliated against him for reporting misconduct at Tesla. The district court ordered most of Hansen’s claims to arbitration, except his claim under the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 (SOX). The district court confirmed…