Climate Scientist Awarded Over $1 Million in Defamation Lawsuit Against Conservative Writers
Climate scientist Michael Mann has been awarded more than $1 million in a defamation lawsuit against former scholar Rand Simberg and media personality Mark Steyn. The legal battle, spanning over a decade, began in 2012 when Simberg and Steyn wrote blog posts ridiculing Mann's scientific research on rising temperatures and comparing him to Jerry Sandusky, the former football coach convicted of child molestation.
The Washington, DC, Superior Court civil case jury granted Mann $1 million in punitive damages and a symbolic one dollar from each defendant in compensatory damages. The lawsuit initially included the National Review and Competitive Enterprise Institute, which were later dismissed in 2021. Mann plans to appeal this decision while celebrating the recent victory against Simberg and Steyn.
In their blog posts, Simberg and Steyn mocked Mann's research on the "Hockey Stick" chart depicting the substantial increase in global temperatures since pre-industrial times. Mann's successful defamation case is notable in the context of the First Amendment's broad protection for speech in the United States. The verdict is seen as a message against false attacks on climate scientists, emphasizing that such actions are not protected speech.
Mann's attorney, Pete Fontaine, highlighted the verdict as a victory for truth and scientists globally dedicated to answering critical scientific questions affecting human health and the planet. Defamation cases, challenging to prove due to free speech protections, have seen recent successes, including an $83.3 million verdict in E. Jean Carrol's case against former President Donald Trump and a $787 million settlement between Fox Corp. and Dominion Voting Systems.
This verdict reinforces the accountability of individuals who make false attacks against climate scientists and underscores the significance of protecting scientific integrity in public discourse.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs):
Q: What was the defamation lawsuit against Michael Mann about? A: Michael Mann filed a defamation lawsuit against Rand Simberg and Mark Steyn, who ridiculed Mann's climate science research, comparing him to Jerry Sandusky and mocking his work on the "Hockey Stick" chart.
Q: What damages were awarded to Michael Mann in the defamation lawsuit? A: The jury awarded Mann over $1 million in punitive damages and a symbolic one dollar from each defendant in compensatory damages.
Q: Why is this defamation case significant in the context of the First Amendment? A: Defamation cases are challenging due to First Amendment protections for speech. Mann's successful lawsuit sends a message that false attacks on climate scientists are not protected speech.
Q: Are there other recent defamation cases with notable outcomes? A: Yes, recent defamation cases include E. Jean Carrol's $83.3 million verdict against Donald Trump and Fox Corp.'s $787 million settlement with Dominion Voting Systems.
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