Overview
- Peter Hinterdobler filed a federal complaint in Oakland seeking $51 million after a July 22, 2023 maintenance incident at Tesla’s Fremont facility.
- He alleges a robot’s arm released unexpectedly with the force of an approximately 8,000-pound counterbalance, knocking him unconscious and causing serious injuries.
- The suit names Tesla and FANUC America, accusing Tesla of failing to ensure the machine was safely de-energized, secured, and stable, and alleging negligent design by FANUC.
- Hinterdobler reports more than $1 million in medical costs to date and projects roughly $6 million more for ongoing treatment, according to the filing.
- The complaint says the robot was placed in an area not designated for such equipment and notes Tesla later introduced machine-specific safety protocols; Tesla and FANUC have not commented.