Twitter Sued : Claims Over $14 Million in Unpaid Bills - podcast episode cover

Twitter Sued : Claims Over $14 Million in Unpaid Bills

Feb 20, 202312 min
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Episode description

In the latest development of the ongoing saga between Tesla CEO Elon Musk and Twitter, it has been revealed that some of the alleged unpaid bills relate to work done by the social media platform to close the contentious acquisition deal with Musk himself. As the deal came together last fall, Twitter executives were reportedly racing to complete it and arranged last-minute charter flights for then-Chief Marketing Officer Leslie Berland. However, after the deal closed, Twitter refused to pay for the flights, with head of global strategic sourcing Marty O'Neill arguing that only designated representatives were allowed to book flights through the charter. Another Twitter worker claimed that former CEO Parag Agrawal had approved the flights, but O'Neill responded that "new management is not going to budge." In response, the air-charter company, Private Jet Services Group, filed a lawsuit seeking $197,725, which has now been voluntarily dismissed with no comment from either side. Meanwhile, Tesla had been facing its own financial challenges, with CEO Elon Musk stating that the company was not behind on payments to suppliers because of a lack of funds but because it was "arguing whether the parts are right." The automaker had also been seeking rent reductions from some landlords in the early days of the Covid-19 pandemic as it, along with many other companies, scrambled to conserve cash.

Transcript

Since Elon Musk took the reins of Twitter Inc, the social media giant has been hit with an increasing number of accusations that it's failed to pay his dues as it aims to reach profitability this year in recent months, landlords consultants and vendors have filed. Nine lawsuits against Twitter, claiming over 14 million dollars. Plus interest. What are the plaintiffs demanding?

Payment? Is a vendor who claims to be owed, nearly seven thousand dollars for a swag gift box for Ilan which was ordered by Twitter's marketing department just days before the forty four billion. Dollar acquisition deal closed on October 27th in one of the nine lawsuits, the plaintiff sought dismissal and the case was closed on Friday and since taking over mr. Musk has inherited a pile of bills and implemented, a more stringent spending approach as part of his signature intensity.

His previous experience including lending Tesla ink through close brushes with financial disaster is involved. Applying pressure on supplies and vendors when preserving cash was critical. Now, van Conway, a restructuring, Burt with about 40 years of experience, helping struggling, companies for marked. What Elon Musk is doing is basically simulating a bankruptcy. He's taking a machete to his

costs. Now, at the time of this recording, neither Twitter, nor Elon Musk has responded to my request for comment on the matter. And since late October, Twitter has undergone a series of dramatic changes under the leadership of mr. Musk who has been on a mission to transform the product of a company that has a history of losing money and reduce Costs in the face of an Advertiser pull back and deal related dead

expenses. Now he is implemented, Sharp Staff cuts, and criticized spending and tweets such as the 13 million dollars. The company spends on employee meals at its headquarters initially Ilan complained that Twitter was losing over four million dollars a day and suggested that bankruptcy was a possibility. However, he later claimed that the company was making progress.

He said Twitter still has challenges but is now trending to break even We keep at it said that on February 5th and of the nine lawsuits filed against Twitter. Three, involve office space, including the company's headquarters in San Francisco. Where the landlord his claim that Twitter failed to make almost six point, eight million dollars in, rent payments for December and January Twitter, which is a now it's a private company.

They no longer discloses Financial details publicly and the company reported last year that it owed 239 million dollars primarily for Office Space. Space and data center facilities in 2023. In one of the lawsuits filed in January Canary LLC, a marketing company, specializing in producing the kind of logo decorated items commonly used in

Silicon Valley Tech companies. Claim that Twitter is behind on payments of almost 400,000 dollars for various Twitter branded merchandise now court documents filed by the company included. A purchase order for most seven thousand dollars which described a swag gift bag for Ilan. The Order included a sandblasted logo on a Japanese whiskey bottle, and extra-large bomber jacket. And more than $250, worth of socks.

It is unclear whether the items were intended for Ilan, or if he even received them, a lawyer for Canary declined to comment at the time of this recording now, mr. Musk's financial management tactics are not new in 2018 Tesla, where he is. Also the CEO worried its suppliers as this struggled to increase production of the

model. Three compact car at the time, the company extended payment terms from 60, to 90 days, and stopped some payments all together and some smaller suppliers, even filed, mechanic's liens, legal claims seeking unpaid compensation against Tesla, alleging unpaid suppliers and services. And in the midst of the covid-19, pandemics early unpredictable days, Tesla found itself in a cache conserving frenzy, like so many other companies as quarantine procedures closed down much of

its business. The automaker reached To several landlords to request rent reductions but it wasn't the only one making such appeals and meanwhile it Twitter, the aftermath of a turbulent acquisition deal involving none, other than Elon Musk himself has led to a legal to speed over alleged unpaid bills. According to court records

Twitter exacts, a range. Last minute, charter flights to shuttle then Chief, marketing officer Leslie burland between New Jersey and San Francisco as they scramble to wrap up the deal. But after the dust settled, His head of global strategic sourcing. Marty O'Neill refused to pay the one hundred and ninety seven thousand seven hundred and twenty five dollar bill from private jet Services. Citing the company's contract with a charter service that only designated Representatives could

book flights. What a Twitter employee pointed out, the former CEO of Prague or wall had approved flights and Leslie was the main liaison between Twitter and musk O'Neill responded with the finality, the seem to close the door on the issue. New management is not going to budge. The case was voluntarily dismissed by private jet services on Friday but neither side has commented on the matter.

Hey if you could do me a favor and hit the Subscribe button on whatever podcast platform you're listening and right now, I'd greatly appreciate it. Now let's get into some SpaceX news. SpaceX is super heavy rocket. Recently completed a static fire test in South Texas where 31 out of 33 of its engines ignited with Elon Musk expressing satisfaction with the results in the successful test received.

Praise from NASA. - traitor, Bill Nelson, who recognize that the Starship super-heavy system is integral to NASA's Moon, to Mars architecture, and helping astronauts land on the moon. This success is a significant milestone for SpaceX and NASA, but the question remains, what comes next? Now, musk hopes that the first orbital test of the Starship, super heavy system will occur in March. However, before this launch can happen SpaceX.

Engineers must evaluate the results of the static fire test and determine if the rocket is ready. For a launch. Additionally, the Federal Aviation Administration, the FAA will need to approve this launch. And the regulatory agency has been considering issuing, a launch license for a while and this is cause delays in the past. Now, NASA views the development of the lunar lander version of the Starship with much urgency, but the FAA doesn't have to

follow by NASA's rules. And the first orbital flight of Starship becomes crucial is SpaceX president wind. Shotwell suggested that the company would like To launch the mammoth rocket ship 100 times without a crew before putting people on it. Even though shout well, went on to say that this plan was aspirational is suggest.

This SpaceX will need to launch. It least almost every single week if it intends to be ready to take astronauts to the lunar Surface by 2025. And if SpaceX makes Starship operational, it will have pulled off a history changing development, the Starship will take humans back to the moon and could be instrumental in opening the Our solar system to human civilization musk would like to use the rocket to go to Mars and found a settlement on the red planet.

And recently SpaceX increased its estimate on how much the Starship could take into space. Reusable version will be able to convey 150 metric, tons of people and material into low earth orbit. But in Expendable version of the Starship that would not carry extra fuel, would be able to take an eye-popping 250 metric tons into space. By comparison the Expendable, Saturn 5 could carry.

In 18 metric tons into space, which included the third stage with unexpended propellant, and the Apollo command/service and lunar modules, over all the success of SpaceX is super heavy. Rocket MRSA is over. All the success of SpaceX is super heavy. Rocket marks a significant step forward for the Starship super

heavy system. And its role in space exploration, if all goes well, the first orbital test of Starship will occur in March. Followed by the mammoth rocket ship launching 100 times without a crew. Taking astronauts to the lunar Surface. By 2025, the Starship will take humans back to the moon and could be instrumental in opening the inner solar system to human Civilization. Now we're going to take a quick

break in when we get back. We're going to be talking about Teslas, opening of the supercharger Network, to all EVS back to the Elon Musk podcast. I'm your host, William Walden. Now, electric vehicles have taken the World by storm, and one of the most significant roadblocks to their widespread. Adoption is a lack of charging infrastructure Tesla. Company that has been on the Forefront of EV Tech has a solution open up. Its supercharger Network to all

electric vehicles. This move by Tesla could be a game changer in making V's more accessible to all Americans in the Biden. Ministration says that Tesla will make 7500 electric vehicle Chargers compatible with non Tesla vehicles, however, it's unclear. How Tesla will do this since their vehicles, use a different charging port than the industry standard. And despite this uncertainty it is A massive step towards making America's most robust EV charging network available to

drivers of more affordable. V's. According to Cameron's of irony, a Ford dealership manager said, Evie's have been very popular. It's made up about 40 percent of our sales this year actually. And when you include hybrids and plug-in hybrids, it's over 50% to support the growing popularity of electric vehicles. The bipartisan infrastructure package set aside 7.5 billion dollars for 500,000. EV Chargers in the US the plan would put them largely along.

Major highways, a shift in public infrastructure, that could mean big business for people like Rory, baldry bald, Ria Boise based, businessman does good business, replacing internal combustion engines with giant batteries and classic cars. He said we're motorhead's, we like the noise, we like the sound, we were all concerned that. Once we built the first one that we wouldn't enjoy it, because of the lack of the sound and I love it. I think it's fantastic.

The massive investment in Evie. Charging infrastructure could make Eevee's more accessible to a broader range of drivers. However, it also raises questions about regulating electric charging stations, such as ensuring prices are fair in

the energy. One pays for it is what they actually get, Tina butcher, supervisory, physical scientists at the National Institute of Standards and Technology said, if I were a business that I own, an electric vehicle, fueling station, I want to make sure that my competitors are held to the same rules that I am anytime.

Someone can make a quick Buck, they're going, Which is why we need some sort of Regulation. Larry Caldwell, who owns an EV agreed saying we need some sort of Regulation to ensure that all charging stations operate fairly and consistently Tesla is working to make us charging ports compatible with non Tesla's by the end of next year. It is one step on the long road to electrifying America. With the federal government's recent investment. In EV charging infrastructure.

V's will become more accessible in a Greener. Future will be within reach. Now, there's an important. To this charging infrastructure in the lack of charging infrastructure right now has long been a roadblock to the widespread adoption of electric vehicles. Unlike gasoline stations which are a bit quickest. Charging stations are few and far between it can be challenging to find a charging station when you need it. And even when you do you may have to wait in a long line for

hours to get a charge out. Tesla Supercharger network was a game changer when it was introduced and the superchargers are capable of providing up to 120 kilowatt. So power allowing Tesla vehicles to add up to 200 miles of range and around 15 minutes. However, until now, the superchargers were only available to Tesla owners with Tesla's announcement that it will make 7500 electric vehicle Chargers. Compatible with not Tesla's drivers of other V's will have access to this fast charging

Network in the future. Hey, thank you for listening to the Elon Musk podcast. I'm your host will Walden and I want to urge you to, please hit the Subscribe button, on whatever podcast platform that you're on. Right now, it really helps the show out. Amenda SLI. If you enjoy Elon Musk, and if you enjoy the show, please take a second to go to our patreon. Patreon.com / stage 0 to help us out. Take care and I'll see you in the next one.

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