Elon Musk Faces Lawsuit Over Unpaid Severance by Former Twitter Exec

Elon Musk is embroiled in yet another legal battle, this time over his controversial acquisition of Twitter. The former Chief Accounting Officer of Twitter, Robert Kaiden, is suing Musk for $3.75 million in unpaid severance. This lawsuit comes on the heels of four other ex-Twitter senior executives filing similar suits against Musk for unpaid severance.

Allegations of Unpaid Severance

Robert Kaiden, Twitter's former chief accounting officer, has filed a lawsuit against Elon Musk, alleging that the billionaire falsely accused him and other Twitter executives of misconduct to wrongfully terminate them without cause. Kaiden claims that Musk's actions were an attempt to avoid paying out $200 million in severance benefits to the affected executives. The lawsuit further asserts that the committee responsible for deciding on Kaiden's severance claim was biased and comprised of individuals from Musk's other companies.

Legal Battles Mount

This recent lawsuit adds to the growing list of legal challenges Musk is facing following his acquisition of Twitter in October 2022. Earlier this year, former Twitter CEO Parag Agrawal and three other senior executives also sued Musk for unpaid severance, collectively seeking $128 million in compensation.

Termination and Allegations

Kaiden, who served as Twitter's Chief Accounting Officer since 2015, played a crucial role in facilitating Musk's takeover of the social media platform. The lawsuit highlights Kaiden's efforts to ensure a smooth transition and even mentions his oversight of a payroll audit to verify the authenticity of employees on Twitter's payroll.

Despite his contributions, Kaiden received a sudden termination notice on November 2, citing alleged gross negligence or willful misconduct. The lawsuit contends that Kaiden was not provided with his final paycheck and that his claim for severance benefits was unjustly denied by a committee allegedly influenced by individuals tied to Musk's other ventures.

Legal Pursuit for Compensation

Robert Kaiden is seeking approximately $3.75 million in unpaid severance along with accrued interest through legal action. The lawsuit underscores the contentious nature of Musk's takeover of Twitter and the ensuing legal disputes with former executives.

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By: tcarter@businessinsider.com (Tom Carter)
Title: Elon Musk Faces Lawsuit Over Unpaid Severance by Former Twitter Exec
Sourced From: www.businessinsider.com/elon-musk-sued-by-another-ex-twitter-exec-over-severance-2024-6
Published Date: Tue, 18 Jun 2024 10:14:52 +0000