Ars
Technica: Last year, the Pennsylvania State University
was accused of covering up malfeasance by faculty member
Michael Mann. Mann is the climate scientist best known for
publicizing the “hockey stick” graph, a plot of
global average temperature for the past 1500 years. In
response, Mann filed a defamation lawsuit against the
Competitive Enterprise Institute and
National Review, the sources of the fraud
accusations. The two groups filed motions to have the case
dismissed on two grounds: that the lawsuit violates legislation
designed to protect legitimate critics, and that it
doesn’t meet the higher standards set for defamation of
public figures such as Mann. However, a judge has now denied
both dismissal motions and allowed the suit to move into
discovery, where both sides will attempt to gain evidence to
support or oppose the lawsuit. The next hearing date is in
September, but it is unclear when, or even if, the case will go
to trial.
