Cristina Balan, a former Tesla engineer who has been embroiled in a legal battle with Elon Musk’s company for the past decade, is still seeking a public apology. After raising concerns about the safety of braking in Tesla vehicles, she lost her job in 2014 and was accused of embezzlement. Despite being in remission from stage-3B breast cancer, her biggest worry is that she may not live to see her day in court. Balan is determined to clear her name for the sake of her son, whom she sees as her hero and whom she does not want to think of her as a thief.
Balan’s professional vindication lies in a case that will eventually be heard in the California Ninth Circuit Court of Appeal, although no date has been set yet. She believes that if she does not win the case, her career will be irreparably damaged due to Tesla’s claims against her. The story also sheds light on the challenges faced by whistleblowers in the technology sector, where the stakes are high due to the wide impact of tech products on the world. However, legal experts advise exploring all possible options before going public with any claims, in order to protect whistleblowers and address their concerns through proper channels.