Ronald Satish Emrit, a self-represented plaintiff, has filed a lawsuit seeking $500 billion in damages against several high-profile defendants, including Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy. The complaint was lodged on January 7, 2025, in the United States District Court for the Middle District of Louisiana. Emrit accuses the defendants of civil rights violations and tortious interference with business relations.
The lawsuit lists four defendants: Elon Musk, Vivek Ramaswamy, Speaker of the House Mike Johnson, and an entity referred to as the Department of Government Efficiency. Emrit claims these parties are collectively responsible for potential budget cuts totaling one trillion dollars that would adversely affect African-Americans and other underprivileged groups relying on federal assistance programs like EBT/SNAP benefits and Section 8 housing vouchers. He further alleges that these actions violate several constitutional provisions including the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Equal Protection Clause, Due Process Clause, Privileges and Immunities Clause, Fourth Amendment right to privacy, and First Amendment freedom of association.
Emrit's complaint details his personal circumstances as an indigent and disabled resident who splits his time between Florida and Maryland. He describes himself as having bipolar disorder and argues this gives him standing to sue over policies he believes threaten his well-being. The complaint suggests that Musk's ownership stakes in companies like SpaceX and Tesla present conflicts of interest with government efficiency efforts. Similarly, it points to Ramaswamy's pharmaceutical ventures as problematic due to alleged sweetheart deals with government contracts.
In addition to monetary compensation, Emrit seeks injunctive relief to prevent further policy actions by the defendants that could harm economically disadvantaged Americans. He requests that U.S. Magistrate Judges Karen Wells Roby, Janis Van Meerveld, or Donna Phillips Currault authorize service of process on the defendants through U.S. Marshals Service Form USM-285 under 28 U.S.C. Section 636.
Furthermore, Emrit calls for criminal proceedings against Elon Musk for purported foreign election interference due to his South African origins. He also demands injunctions against creating new governmental departments without congressional approval—a move he claims violates separation-of-powers principles.
Representing himself pro se in this legal battle is Ronald Satish Emrit from Sarasota, Florida. The case is identified as Case No.: 3:25-cv-00025-SDJ-RLB with involvement from Magistrate Judges Karen Wells Roby, Janis Van Meerveld, and Donna Phillips Currault.