Elon Musk 'to be sued in Thailand, London and US’ by cave diver he called 'paedo' in baseless remark

SOPHIE WILLIAMS 
The Evening Standard

 

The cave diver who Elon Musk has baselessly labelled a 'paedo guy' says he will sue the billionaire in three countries. 

 

Vernon Unsworth is preparing to start legal action against the Tesla boss and is reportedly considering going through Thai courts where Mr Musk could even be handed a jail sentence for his remark.

 

He is also said to be considering suing Mr Musk for defamation in London and the US. 

 

Full story: https://www.standard.co.uk/news/world/cave-diver-called-paedo-by-elon-musk-to-sue-him-in-thailand-london-and-us-a3928796.html

 

-- EVENING STANDARD 2018-2018-09-06

Me thinks he protests too muuuch and trying to sue him in 3 different countries is ridiculous . The US is the best option not only because thats where Musk lives but if found guilty the payout would be enormous .

9 minutes ago, webfact said:

Mr Musk could even be handed a jail sentence for his remark.

He could serve his time with all the other rich Thai crooks in jail...….Hang on!......The rich don't do jail time in Thailand!

3 minutes ago, PatOngo said:

He could serve his time with all the other rich Thai crooks in jail...….Hang on!......The rich don't do jail time in Thailand!

And why would Musk even come to Thailand .

15 minutes ago, webfact said:

Elon Musk 'to be sued in Thailand, London and US’

Should always be careful what you wish for, eh Elon...

3 minutes ago, keith101 said:

And why would Musk even come to Thailand .

He came before didn't he. And there is already talk about developing charging stations for electric cars in Thailand. Not very good PR for a company trying to enter new markets. 

5 minutes ago, keith101 said:

Me thinks he protests too muuuch and trying to sue him in 3 different countries is ridiculous . The US is the best option not only because thats where Musk lives but if found guilty the payout would be enormous .

No it is not ridiculous. My understanding from Musk's own comments is that Vernon was offered free legal services, so he better sue in every country that is concerned in this defamation case. The more court cases the better, as they are all independent, and will carry different charges.

 

 

Just now, keith101 said:

And why would Musk even come to Thailand .

Well he was here 3 months ago, and maybe one day he will return, or be on a flight that makes a stopover in Thailand.

Vern Unsworth started this nonsense, now he is going overboard suing Musk in 3 countries.

You need to be very careful maybe it will come back and bite you in the backside.

They were both wrong, both made stupid remarks, and why is Vern buggering up his life with this nonsense, live and let live, move on enjoy whats left of your life.

Is Vern going to court just to prove he's not a pedo? It's not illegal to call somebody a pedo, but since there's a dispute he needs to prove he isn't. Elon could easily just funnel some cash to his thai girlfriend and endup turning against him. He could also slide off future investments in thailand, and will thai authorities be happy with that? Could Vern perhaps risk being blacklisted? 

 

I'm getting sick of this Vern guy who's nothing more but a looser hiding in Chiang Rai thinking he was the only hero in the cave rescue operation. I first thought he was reasonable and did a great job, but I'm done supporting the guy. Now we all understand he's doing everything he can to squeeze some cash out of Musk. 

Just now, colinneil said:

Vern Unsworth started this nonsense, now he is going overboard suing Musk in 3 countries.

 

Musk begged on Twitter for Vernon to sue him.

 

One should never deny such a kind request

Maybe Musk is looking to take a page from a similar character: Howard Hughes. Can't get blood out of a turnip. From Wikipedia:

 

When a major battle with the IRS loomed ahead, Hughes gave all his stock in the Hughes Aircraft Company to the (Howard Hughes Medical Institute), thereby turning the aerospace and defense contractor into a for-profit entity of a fully tax-exempt charity.

 

So even if Unsworth might win his case(s),  collecting on damages might not be easy.

2 hours ago, janclaes47 said:

My understanding from Musk's own comments is that Vernon was offered free legal services,

(Lin) Wood, Unsworth's attorney, said via email that his firm is "representing Mr. Unsworth pursuant to a written engagement agreement and are not providing services pro bono."

 

https://money.cnn.com/2018/08/29/news/elon-musk-libel-lawsuit-vern-unsworth/index.html

I hope Vernon has plenty of money, because lawyers dont work for free, and suing in three countries will be VERY expensive.

I know he kicked things off, but Musk has gone too far and deserves to get nailed. Calling someone a pedo without evidence is just wrong.

29 minutes ago, racket said:

Is Vern going to court just to prove he's not a pedo? It's not illegal to call somebody a pedo, but since there's a dispute he needs to prove he isn't. Elon could easily just funnel some cash to his thai girlfriend and endup turning against him. He could also slide off future investments in thailand, and will thai authorities be happy with that? Could Vern perhaps risk being blacklisted? 

 

I'm getting sick of this Vern guy who's nothing more but a looser hiding in Chiang Rai thinking he was the only hero in the cave rescue operation. I first thought he was reasonable and did a great job, but I'm done supporting the guy. Now we all understand he's doing everything he can to squeeze some cash out of Musk. 

"It's not illegal to call somebody a pedo,"

It is in Thailand. 

9 minutes ago, darksidedog said:

I hope Vernon has plenty of money, because lawyers dont work for free, and suing in three countries will be VERY expensive.

I know he kicked things off, but Musk has gone too far and deserves to get nailed. Calling someone a pedo without evidence is just wrong.

Working on a contingency basis probably. So no need to dole out any money. 

1 minute ago, GarryP said:

Working on a contingency basis probably. So no need to dole out any money. 

Not so sure about that. US lawyers especially want you to have some "skin in the game" so will probably want to see a wad of cash before they sue someone like Musk. UK are pretty much the same and I don't know any Thai lawyers who will even move off their chair before they see cash, and lots of it.

3 minutes ago, GarryP said:

Working on a contingency basis probably. So no need to dole out any money. 

However contingency arrangements are not allowed in Thailand. If Unsworth's Attorney Lin is about to file civil charges in a Los Angeles federal court as he reported to CNN, then the next step would be for Musk's attorneys to file a motion as to why the case should be dismissed.

Suing him in one country OK, if he sues him in 3 countries, that seems just as stupidity! Because if it is possible to get 3x the money/convictions then we can all start suing people for defamation in all 195 countries as long as what was said was posted on internet!!!

23 minutes ago, darksidedog said:

I hope Vernon has plenty of money, because lawyers dont work for free, and suing in three countries will be VERY expensive.

I know he kicked things off, but Musk has gone too far and deserves to get nailed. Calling someone a pedo without evidence is just wrong.

No win no fee....Perhaps

9 minutes ago, JLCrab said:

However contingency arrangements are not allowed in Thailand. If Unsworth's Attorney Lin is about to file civil charges in a Los Angeles federal court as he reported to CNN, then the next step would be for Musk's attorneys to file a motion as to why the case should be dismissed.

Theoretically that is correct. Does not mean it does not happen. Anyway, legal fees here would not be that high. 

5 minutes ago, GarryP said:

Theoretically that is correct. Does not mean it does not happen. Anyway, legal fees here would not be that high. 

So what are they going to do have to wait for him to have to land his Gulfstream G650 ER in Thailand?

1 hour ago, racket said:

It's not illegal to call somebody a pedo,

You really need to educate yourself about Thai defamation law if that is what you believe.

 

Quote

Whoever, imputes anything to the other person before a third person in a manner likely to impair the reputation of such other person or to expose such other person to be hated or scorned, is said to commit defamation, and shall be punished with imprisonment not exceeding one year or fined not exceeding twenty thousand Baht, or both.

 

there is one one rather interesting catch for Elon Musk 

Quote

In case of defamation, if the person prosecuted for defamation can prove that the imputation made by him is true, he shall not be punished. But he shall not be allowed to prove if such imputation concerns personal matters, and such proof will not be benefit to the public.

So Vern doesn't have to prove anything to win, EM has to prove that he is correct but is probably legally prohibited from doing that even if it were true.

1 hour ago, racket said:

Is Vern going to court just to prove he's not a pedo? It's not illegal to call somebody a pedo, but since there's a dispute he needs to prove he isn't. Elon could easily just funnel some cash to his thai girlfriend and endup turning against him. He could also slide off future investments in thailand, and will thai authorities be happy with that? Could Vern perhaps risk being blacklisted? 

 

I'm getting sick of this Vern guy who's nothing more but a looser hiding in Chiang Rai thinking he was the only hero in the cave rescue operation. I first thought he was reasonable and did a great job, but I'm done supporting the guy. Now we all understand he's doing everything he can to squeeze some cash out of Musk. 

How would you feel if someone would call you pedo and later that you are a child rapist? Wouldn't you be upset?

1 hour ago, racket said:

Is Vern going to court just to prove he's not a pedo? It's not illegal to call somebody a pedo, but since there's a dispute he needs to prove he isn't. Elon could easily just funnel some cash to his thai girlfriend and endup turning against him. He could also slide off future investments in thailand, and will thai authorities be happy with that? Could Vern perhaps risk being blacklisted? 

Surely the burden of proof would be on Musk - why should the English guy prove anything, especially when the allegations against him were borne of prejudice and malice?

 

As for offering inducements to potential witnesses to corroborate a non-story, that is a whole new level of criminality. Musk seems to be very stupid in this case so far, but I doubt even he would be that stupid.

19 minutes ago, OneMoreFarang said:

How would you feel if someone would call you pedo and later that you are a child rapist? Wouldn't you be upset?

Nonsense, my own daughter called me that when i told her i was marrying a lady 20 years younger than me.

Did i care, no i didnt it is just words, words cannot hurt you unless you are a 21st century snowflake who gets offended just by a few words.

Neither of them is Thai, how can you use an arbitrary jurisdiction to sue foreigners?

An off topic post bringing Donald and Ivanka Trump into the discussion has been removed, also replies that were trying to hijack the topic. 

6 minutes ago, RuamRudy said:

Surely the burden of proof would be on Musk - why should the English guy prove anything, especially when the allegations against him were borne of prejudice and malice?it may 

In the USA, based upon a judge's procedural rulings, it might be Unsworth who has to prove that he is not a pedo.

4 minutes ago, colinneil said:

Nonsense, my own daughter called me that when i told her i was marrying a lady 20 years younger than me.

Did i care, no i didnt it is just words, words cannot hurt you unless you are a 21st century snowflake who gets offended just by a few words.

I can sort of agree with you, but in this day and age, there are few labels worse that you can tag someone with. And, of course, your daughter's words were not reported in newspapers around the world...

 

That said, I think the English guy set the whole thing in motion - dumb and dumber, the pair of them. 

1 minute ago, JLCrab said:

In the USA, based upon a judge's procedural rulings, it might be Unsworth who has to prove that he is not a pedo.

Wow - seriously? I can accuse anyone of anything, and it might be up to them to disprove it? That seems crazy!