In a tremendous legal victory for Tesla CEO Elon Musk, a San Francisco-based US court on Wednesday (Jul&nbsp;10) dismissed a lawsuit alleging that the billionaire refused to pay at least $500 million in severance to thousands of employees&nbsp;— fired in mass lay-offs when he acquired the social media company Twitter, now rebranded as X.

Ex-Twitter employees claim that one of the world's richest men, Musk, did not provide them with the appropriate severance packages, as promised under a severance plan outlined in 2019.&nbsp;

Instead, they claim they only received one month of severance pay without any benefits.&nbsp;

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<h2>Court ruling</h2>

US District Judge Trina Thompson ruled on Tuesday (Jul&nbsp;9) that the claims brought by former Twitter employees did not fall under the federal Employee Retirement Income Security Act (Erisa), which governs benefit plans. She said that, as such, the court lacked jurisdiction to hear the case.

Judge Thompson determined that Erisa did not apply to the severance plan because it did not constitute an "ongoing administrative scheme" involving case-by-case review or additional benefits such as continued health insurance or outplacement services.&nbsp;

"There were only cash payments promised," she stated in her ruling.

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The judge noted that the plaintiffs might amend their complaint to pursue claims not governed by Erisa.

<h2>Ongoing legal battles for Musk</h2>

The decision comes amidst multiple lawsuits Musk faces over his business practices at his companies&nbsp;— X, Tesla, and SpaceX&nbsp;— which include allegations of gender discrimination, defamation, and retaliatory firings.

Musk's lawyers were also involved in court proceedings this week over his contested multibillion-dollar compensation package as Tesla’s CEO. The court is set to decide whether the lawyers who successfully argued for the invalidation of Musk’s pay should receive $7 billion in legal fees, a record-breaking sum in US legal history.

(With inputs from agencies)

In a tremendous legal victory for Tesla CEO Elon Musk, a San Francisco-based US court on Wednesday (Jul 10) dismissed a lawsuit alleging that the billionaire refused to pay at least $500 million in severance to thousands of employees — fired in mass lay-offs when he acquired the social media company Twitter, now rebranded as X.

In a tremendous legal victory for Tesla CEO Elon Musk, a San Francisco-based US court on Wednesday (Jul 10) dismissed a lawsuit alleging that the billionaire refused to pay at least $500 million in severance to thousands of employees — fired in mass lay-offs when he acquired the social media company Twitter, now rebranded as X. Ex-Twitter employees claim that one of the world's richest men, Musk, did not provide them with the appropriate severance packages, as promised under a severance plan outlined in 2019. Instead, they claim they only received one month of severance pay without any benefits. Also read | Senator Peter Welch urges Biden to quit 2024 race, as Democrats challenge him to prove re-election viability Court ruling US District Judge Trina Thompson ruled on Tuesday (Jul 9) that the claims brought by former Twitter employees did not fall under the federal Employee Retirement Income Security Act (Erisa), which governs benefit plans. She said that, as such, the court lacked jurisdiction to hear the case. Judge Thompson determined that Erisa did not apply to the severance plan because it did not constitute an "ongoing administrative scheme" involving case-by-case review or additional benefits such as continued health insurance or outplacement services. "There were only cash payments promised," she stated in her ruling. Also read | ISIS leader al-Baghdadi's wife, Asma Mohammed, sentenced to death for 'crimes against humanity' The judge noted that the plaintiffs might amend their complaint to pursue claims not governed by Erisa. Ongoing legal battles for Musk The decision comes amidst multiple lawsuits Musk faces over his business practices at his companies — X, Tesla, and SpaceX — which include allegations of gender discrimination, defamation, and retaliatory firings. Musk's lawyers were also involved in court proceedings this week over his contested multibillion-dollar compensation package as Tesla’s CEO. The court is set to decide whether the lawyers who successfully argued for the invalidation of Musk’s pay should receive $7 billion in legal fees, a record-breaking sum in US legal history. (With inputs from agencies)

US court dismisses $500 million severance lawsuit against Elon Musk

After the reported closure of Twitter's Brussels lobbying office, the European Union has expressed concern over the firm's increasingly falling staff numbers.&nbsp;

Talking to reporters in Dublin, EU justice commissioner Didier Reynders said "We have concerns about the decisions to have less and less people working at the company."&nbsp;

Watch |&nbsp;EU innovates rule to stop misinformation, companies to sign digital services act

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This comes as a recent EU evaluation showed that the proportion of hate speech notifications examined by major social media companies within 24 hours has decreased from 90 per cent in 2020 to 81 per cent&nbsp;in 2021, and to 64 per cent&nbsp;in 2022.

It further revealed that among the major players only Youtube made improvements. Data showed that while Twitter and other tech giants made less of an effort, YouTube improved its removal rate for content deemed offensive as per an EU code of conduct.

An unnamed European Commission official is quoted by Reuters as saying "Twitter representatives reaffirmed the commitment of the company to ensure full compliance with EU rules. Commissioner Reynders took note of it and asked Twitter to translate this commitment into concrete measures."&nbsp;

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/twitter-has-spoken-millions-vote-yes-to-elon-musks-poll-on-reinstating-suspended-accounts-537242">'Vox Populi, Vox Dei': Elon Musk announces reinstatement of suspended Twitter accounts</a>

The Digital Services Act, a new set of regulations, which go into effect in February 2024, mandates that online platforms do more to monitor the internet for illegal content or face fines of up to 6 per cent&nbsp;of their annual global revenue.

"When we discuss hate speech, I am sure we need human resources," said the EU justice commissioner Reynders as he addressed the media after a meeting with unidentified representatives from Twitter reports AFP.

Since Elon Musk took over Twitter, concerns about layoffs have plagued the tech world.&nbsp;

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/digital-services-act-what-it-means-and-how-eu-will-regulate-tech-giants-473157">Digital Services Act: What it means &amp; and how EU will regulate tech giants</a>

Concerns were heightened when a Financial Times report said that the corporation had closed its office in Brussels as a result of the departure of executives in charge of measures to comply with the EU's online regulations.

Vera Jourova, vice president of the EU commission, also underscored the bloc's concerns.

Tweeting a link to the FT article she wrote, "I am concerned about the news of firing of a vast amount of staff of Twitter in Europe. If you want to effectively detect and take action against #disinformation &amp; propaganda, this requires resources. Especially in the context of 🇷🇺 disinformation warfare."

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I am concerned about the news of firing of a vast amount of staff of Twitter in Europe. If you want to effectively detect and take action against <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/disinformation?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#disinformation</a> &amp; propaganda, this requires resources. Especially in the context of 🇷🇺 disinformation warfare.<a href="https://t.co/Nji2w1ziiF">https://t.co/Nji2w1ziiF</a>
— Věra Jourová (@VeraJourova) <a href="https://twitter.com/VeraJourova/status/1595844046152425473?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 24, 2022</a></blockquote>
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"It's an additional concern, because to us to have a team dedicated to the relation with the European institutions is very important," said Reynders addressing the FT report, he added that in spite of this he was "optimistic by nature" and that he had been given assurances that the Dublin-based Twitter staff will take over the Brussels positions.

After acquiring the company last month, tech entrepreneur Musk has fired around half of Twitter's 7,500 employees, including those who were entrusted with battling misinformation.

(With inputs from agencies)

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After the reported closure of Twitter's Brussels lobbying office, the European Union has expressed concern over the firm's increasingly falling staff numbers. Talking to reporters in Dublin, EU justice commissioner Didier Reynders said "We have concerns about the decisions to have less and less people working at the company.

After the reported closure of Twitter's Brussels lobbying office, the European Union has expressed concern over the firm's increasingly falling staff numbers. Talking to reporters in Dublin, EU justice commissioner Didier Reynders said "We have concerns about the decisions to have less and less people working at the company." Watch | EU innovates rule to stop misinformation, companies to sign digital services act This comes as a recent EU evaluation showed that the proportion of hate speech notifications examined by major social media companies within 24 hours has decreased from 90 per cent in 2020 to 81 per cent in 2021, and to 64 per cent in 2022. It further revealed that among the major players only Youtube made improvements. Data showed that while Twitter and other tech giants made less of an effort, YouTube improved its removal rate for content deemed offensive as per an EU code of conduct. An unnamed European Commission official is quoted by Reuters as saying "Twitter representatives reaffirmed the commitment of the company to ensure full compliance with EU rules. Commissioner Reynders took note of it and asked Twitter to translate this commitment into concrete measures." Also read | 'Vox Populi, Vox Dei': Elon Musk announces reinstatement of suspended Twitter accounts The Digital Services Act, a new set of regulations, which go into effect in February 2024, mandates that online platforms do more to monitor the internet for illegal content or face fines of up to 6 per cent of their annual global revenue. "When we discuss hate speech, I am sure we need human resources," said the EU justice commissioner Reynders as he addressed the media after a meeting with unidentified representatives from Twitter reports AFP. Since Elon Musk took over Twitter, concerns about layoffs have plagued the tech world. Also read | Digital Services Act: What it means & and how EU will regulate tech giants Concerns were heightened when a Financial Times report said that the corporation had closed its office in Brussels as a result of the departure of executives in charge of measures to comply with the EU's online regulations. Vera Jourova, vice president of the EU commission, also underscored the bloc's concerns. Tweeting a link to the FT article she wrote, "I am concerned about the news of firing of a vast amount of staff of Twitter in Europe. If you want to effectively detect and take action against #disinformation & propaganda, this requires resources. Especially in the context of 🇷🇺 disinformation warfare." I am concerned about the news of firing of a vast amount of staff of Twitter in Europe. If you want to effectively detect and take action against #disinformation & propaganda, this requires resources. Especially in the context of 🇷🇺 disinformation warfare.https://t.co/Nji2w1ziiF — Věra Jourová (@VeraJourova) November 24, 2022 × "It's an additional concern, because to us to have a team dedicated to the relation with the European institutions is very important," said Reynders addressing the FT report, he added that in spite of this he was "optimistic by nature" and that he had been given assurances that the Dublin-based Twitter staff will take over the Brussels positions. After acquiring the company last month, tech entrepreneur Musk has fired around half of Twitter's 7,500 employees, including those who were entrusted with battling misinformation. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

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