Slashdot Mirror

← Back to Stories (view on slashdot.org)

Michael Mann Defamation Suit Against National Review Writer to Proceed

Posted by timothy on from the look-at-the-numbers-on-these-thin-skin-projections dept.

From Ars Technica comes this update in the defamation case filed by climate researcher Michael Mann against political commentator Mark Steyn of National Review magazine, who rhetorically compared Mann to Penn State coach Jerry Sandusky and accused him of publishing intentionally misleading research results. "The defendants tried to get it dismissed under the District of Columbia's Strategic Lawsuit Against Public Participation (SLAPP) statute, which attempts to keep people from being silenced by frivolous lawsuits. The judge hearing the case denied the attempt and then promptly retired; Mann next amended his complaint, leading an appeals court to send the whole thing back to a new trial judge. Now the new judge has denied the SLAPP attempt yet again. In a decision released late last week (and hosted by defendant Mark Steyn), the judge recognizes that the comparison to a child molester is part of the "opinions and rhetorical hyperbole" that are protected speech when used against public figures like Mann. However, the accompanying accusations of fraud are not exempt:"

6 of 393 comments (clear)

  1. SLAPPed hard by harvey+the+nerd · · Score: 0, Troll

    Does persistent presentation of flawed mathematical techniques, alteration of data, and highly selective selection aided by ad hominem, conspiracy (climategate emails) and initimidation count as a reasonable suspicion of fraud?

  2. Re:good by superwiz · · Score: 0, Troll

    Isn't realclimate.org just his advocacy site? I've had people point to it before. It's reads like a marketing hype rather than as a scientific discussion.

    --
    Any guest worker system is indistinguishable from indentured servitude.
  3. Re:Actually he is debating Steyn in court by OYAHHH · · Score: 0, Troll

    Same goes for Mr. Mann. Sure would hate to see "Global Warming" get slapped down by the courts now wouldn't we?

    --
    Caution: Contents under pressure
  4. How sad Republicans have gotten by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0, Troll

    If William F Buckley was in charge of the National Review, he would have slapped Steyn down himself instead of a court doing it soon for writing such rubbish.

  5. Re:Actually he is debating Steyn in court by AlphaWolf_HK · · Score: 0, Troll

    Wait, are you telling me that people who believe in global warming aren't just trying to profit from global disaster?

    I think that's actually where Al Gore gets a lot of his money from. Selling books and movies, and selling carbon indulgences. I'm sure he's not the only one either.

    I wouldn't have brought it up, but you did ask...

    --
    Careful with names containing L slashdot.org/~AiphaWolf_HK slashdot.org/~AlphaWoif_HK slashdot.org/~AiphaWoif_HK
  6. Re:Steyn is Slime by ChrisMaple · · Score: 0, Troll

    "Manmade climate change", particularly "manmade global warming", is a colossal fraud. Steyn is quite brave in standing up to the political pressures advancing this fraud, particularly since Obama is packing the courts to the best of his corrupt abilities.

    Can you say "railroaded"?

    --
    Contribute to civilization: ari.aynrand.org/donate