A jury decided that David Sabatini — discoverer of mTOR and former MIT scientist— was defamed by Kristen Knouse. The award is sizable— 6 million. Notably this verdict was not rendered in deep red Mississippi - but Suffock county, MA— which voted overwhelmingly for Kamala Harris.
The jury rejected claims that Sabatini sexual harassed Dr. Knouse, and ruled that she defamed him— costing him professionally- by falsely claiming he groomed her, or that she did was coerced into a sexual relationship. Instead, it appears the jury was persuaded by Sabatini who argued that she made the complaints to punish him for finding a new partner. These charges led HHMI to fire Dr. Sabatini, and eventually paved the way for his resignation from the Whitehead.
MIT and the Whitehead was previously removed from the litigation, and it is unlikely further action can be taken against them.
What is the lesson?
The lesson is that universities should be careful to avoid feeding into the online pile ons that happen on X. This time, the university escapes unscathed, but the verdict shows that the judicial system can render a result that is devastating in cases of mass hysteria and pile ons without careful and thoughtful consideration of the facts. MIT and the Whitehead have escaped this time, but I suspect a future controversial firing may ensnare the university and it’s principals.
The next case to follow with be Norman Wang— demoted at UPMC because he disagrees with affirmative action.
I don't find this relevant or consistent with Sensible Medicine. I am afraid Dr. Prasad has his own agenda. Please go back to your usual content.
I’m not sure what this has to do with Sensible Medicine. Don’t you have a better place to post this?