Judge May Order Tesla to Grant Expert System Access

Federal Court Judge Tom Thawley suggested that Tesla may be ordered to grant an independent expert access to its internal engineering platforms to resolve a discovery dispute. The proposal comes amid a class action lawsuit filed in February 2025 on behalf of approximately 10,000 Tesla owners, who allege that Model 3 and Model Y vehicles suffer from phantom braking and that the company overstated battery range and self-driving capabilities.

Tesla argues it has provided thousands of documents in good faith but maintains that its live software platforms do not produce traditional point-in-time records. Judge Thawley proposed that a court-appointed expert would be a faster and more cost-effective alternative to ongoing disputes over documentation, noting he may order the access even over the parties' objections.

Lawyer Fiona Roughley, representing the applicants, stated the suggestion for an independent expert made sense. Conversely, Tesla's lawyer, Imtiaz Ahmed, noted that the company's systems are highly confidential. The case is scheduled to return to court on November 12.