In what is believed to be the first lawsuit of its kind, a Tesla owner has filed a civil lawsuit against a man caught on video vandalizing his vehicle, seeking damages for emotional distress, mental anguish, lost wages, and property damage.
The lawsuit, filed on Tuesday by the Dallas-based Nachawati Law Group, follows the recent arrest of Rafael H. Hernandez by investigators at Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport. According to court filings, the Tesla owner, identified only by the initials J.N., returned to the airport’s parking lot on March 16 to find a deep scratch running along the side of his Tesla Model X. Investigators later reviewed footage from the vehicle’s “Sentry Mode” security system, which captured a man using a car key to deface the vehicle. Mr. Hernandez was subsequently taken into custody.
“America is a free country, and individuals should be able to purchase and enjoy their vehicle without fear of harassment or threats, regardless of political perceptions,” said Majed Nachawati, founder of the Nachawati Law Group, in a statement. “My client bought his Tesla because he appreciates its technology and performance — not as a political statement. To be targeted for that choice is an affront to the basic principles of freedom and justice.”
The lawsuit comes amid a wave of politically motivated vandalism targeting Tesla vehicles. In recent weeks, Tesla owners have reported a surge in attacks, with incidents of vehicles being keyed, tires slashed, and windows smashed. These acts of vandalism appear to stem from growing public resentment toward Tesla CEO Elon Musk, whose high-profile collaboration with the Trump administration’s Department of Governmental Efficiency (DOGE) has fueled political divisions. Videos of Tesla vandalism have surfaced online, with perpetrators often citing Musk’s association with conservative policies as motivation.
Earlier this month, police in Los Angeles arrested a man suspected of slashing the tires of multiple Tesla vehicles in a parking garage, while authorities in San Francisco are investigating a series of similar incidents. In a separate case, a Tesla Model 3 parked outside a polling station in Arizona was targeted by vandals who spray-painted political slogans on the vehicle.
While U.S. Attorney Pam Bondi has vowed to aggressively prosecute criminal cases involving such attacks, the lawsuit filed in Tarrant County marks the first known civil claim by an individual Tesla owner seeking damages related to this rising trend.
“If this kind of malicious behavior is allowed to continue unchecked, it sets a dangerous precedent,” said Mr. Nachawati. “Our firm is committed to defending Tesla owners — or any individual — who faces this kind of unjustified harm.”
J.N., who purchased the Model X in 2022, filed the lawsuit under his initials to protect his privacy and avoid further threats. The case, J.N. v. Rafael Hernandez, is filed under Case No. 141-363070-25 in the Tarrant County District Court.