Elon Musk goes to trial with Tesla Critic

Randeep Hothi, a University of Michigan graduate student known as "@skabooshka" on Twitter, drew Musk's wrath two years ago after two incidents, both of which Hothi claims were harmless.

Musk complained about Hothi in an email to an online tech editor, describing him as a liar and accusing him of "almost" killing Tesla employees when he was trying to drive away from the sales centre.

Hothi claimed that Musk triggered an online hate campaign against him in the complaint he filed in August in Alameda County Superior Court.

Musk asked the judge to strike the lawsuit because what he said involved a matter of public interest -- making it protected speech -- and that Hothi couldn't prove the statements were untrue or made with malice. In a brief written ruling, Judge Julia Spain concluded there are issues suitable for a trial over whether Musk's statements were true. She also said Hothi showed that he can probably win the lawsuit.