Elon Musk’s data center sued for $30 million by family of worker killed at site
Elon Musk's SpaceXAI is being sued for $30 million by the family of a worker who died after falling at its Colossus data center in Memphis, Tennessee. The lawsuit alleges severe safety deficiencies at the site. Separately, the facility has faced criticism and a lawsuit from environmental groups over air pollution from its gas turbines, leading to an agreement with state regulators for their removal by July 2027.
Elon Musk's SpaceXAI faces a $30 million lawsuit after Alexis Vicent, an employee of Employer Solutions Staffing Group, died following a fall at the Colossus II data center in Memphis, Tennessee. Vicent fell approximately 25-30 feet from a mezzanine in August 2025, allegedly due to a lack of guardrails, tie-off points, and other safety systems, according to a lawsuit filed in August 2026 and reported by The Commercial Appeal.
The Tennessee Occupational Safety and Health Administration (TOHSA) investigated the incident, finding that Vicent was "not protected from fall hazards." Vicent's family is seeking $30 million in damages, including $20 million in punitive damages.
The Colossus facility, developed by xAI and later folded into SpaceXAI, has also been a subject of environmental controversy regarding its gas turbines used for power. The Southern Environmental Law Center (SELC) and Earthjustice, representing the NAACP, filed a lawsuit alleging the turbines cause air pollution and are operating illegally. SpaceXAI has since agreed with the Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality to remove all turbines by July 2027. SpaceX President Gwynne Shotwell also confirmed that Elon Musk has been living on-site at the facility.