$13 Million Settlement Reached After Worker Injury at Tesla's Fremont Factory

A woman who claimed she suffered debilitating injuries while working as a janitor at Tesla's Fremont plant will get $13 million in a settlement.

The case had been set for trial in Alameda County. The agreement was reached Friday after a jury was selected but before opening statements began, according to Khail Parris, attorney for the plaintiff.

At the time of the 2014 incident, Parris's client Teodora Tapia was employed by Flagship Facility Services as a janitor at the Tesla plant.

According to Tapia's complaint, on the night of August 12, 2014, she was performing janitorial services when the driver of a Tesla car pinned her between his vehicle and another, and then struck her a second time. That driver was contracted by another staffing company, West Valley Staffing Group.

"As a result of the Defendant's actions," the claim said, "Plaintiff suffered serious and permanent injuries to her lower extremities and body."

Parris said Tapia is now permanently disabled as a result of her injuries.

"Everyone agreed she would never be able to work again, in any capacity, in any kind of job because of how severe her injury was," Parris added.

A spokesperson for Tesla confirmed to KPCC that the company reached a settlement agreement, but said much of the financial burden will fall on West Valley Staffing Group, the company that employed the driver of the car.

"Given that it involved two contractors on Tesla's property, the contractor's employer, West Valley, will pay the bulk of the settlement," Tesla said.

Read the full story via KPCC / LAist