In the age of Trump, a climate change libel suit heads to trial


The case is being brought by Michael Mann
of Pennsylvania State University, who is perhaps best known for helping
develop the famous “hockey stick” graph used to illustrate global
warming. Mann is suing two bloggers who accused him of scientific and
academic misconduct in 2012. On Thursday, the D.C. Court of Appeals
unanimously ruled that Mann has the right to proceed with the lawsuit.

“Dr. Mann has supplied sufficient evidence for a reasonable jury to find, by
a preponderance of the evidence, that statements in the articles
written by Mr. Simberg and Mr. Steyn were false, defamatory, and
published by appellants to third parties, and, by clear and convincing
evidence, that appellants did so with actual malice,” wrote Senior Judge
Vanessa Ruiz in the court’s opinion.

The decision suggests that, even as the climate-skeptical Trump
administration comes into office, a high profile lawsuit could be
underway in Washington, D.C., that also partly turns on the evidence
for, and against, climate change.


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