Tesla targeted by $51 million lawsuit; worker alleges he was knocked out by robot
A technician at one of Tesla Motors’ California plants has filed a million lawsuit against the electric vehicle manufacturer and one of its suppliers, claiming that an assembly robot built by FANUC knocked him out while he was trying to disassemble it. Filed September 19, the California civil lawsuit seeks $51 million in personal liability damages from FANUC America as well as Tesla Motors.
The defendant, Peter Hinterdobler, a 50-year old robotics technician, said in his complaint that he and an engineer were trying to disassemble a FANUC robot arm in Tesla’s Fremont, California factory when it suddenly “released with great force” from the robot’s counterweight and knocked Hinterdobler to the ground, unconscious.
The lawsuit alleges FANUC designed the equipment poorly and that Tesla was negligent in safely powering down the robot. The complaint further alleges the robot was in an area that wasn’t designed for robot arms, and that Tesla added additional safety protocols after the incident.
Neither Tesla nor FANUC America have commented publicly on the lawsuit.
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