SpaceX just lost its attempt to push a sexual harassment lawsuit from eight former employees into private arbitration.
Thanks to a 2022 law, people bringing harassment claims don't have to settle things in secret anymore, even if their contracts say otherwise.
Judges also clarified that these former employees don't need to prove their sexual harassment claims would survive a motion to dismiss just to avoid arbitration, which usually gives companies the upper hand.
SpaceX firings over Elon Musk posts
The case started after SpaceX fired staff in 2022 for calling out Elon Musk's social media behavior: think inappropriate jokes and political posts.
Those former employees then spoke up about what they described as a toxic workplace culture at SpaceX.
While the company did get the case moved from state to federal court, it lost both district and appeals court battles over keeping things private under the new law.
Tom Moline praises Ninth Circuit ruling
One of the plaintiffs, Tom Moline, called the ruling "The Ninth Circuit correctly recognized SpaceX's claims for what they are: an attempt to hide and distract from the toxic culture of sexual harassment and retaliation that persists to this day."
The company hasn't said yet if it'll try appealing again.