Judge's Verdict on Elon Musk Settlement Sparks More Questions Than Answers U. S. District Judge Sparkle Sooknanan's recent approval of a $1.
5 million penalty against Elon Musk has left many puzzled, including the judge herself. The settlement, paid from a trust in Musk's name without an admission of wrongdoing, has raised eyebrows due to its leniency.
Sooknanan's decision to approve the settlement, despite having "significant misgivings" about it, is notable given her own reservations about the fairness and reasonableness of the agreement.