{"id":2410624,"date":"2025-03-06T16:44:02","date_gmt":"2025-03-06T21:44:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/brutal-turn-for-climate-change-icon-michael-mann-as-1-million-defamation-judgment-goes-up-in-smoke\/"},"modified":"2025-03-06T16:46:58","modified_gmt":"2025-03-06T21:46:58","slug":"brutal-turn-for-climate-change-icon-michael-mann-as-1-million-defamation-judgment-goes-up-in-smoke","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/brutal-turn-for-climate-change-icon-michael-mann-as-1-million-defamation-judgment-goes-up-in-smoke\/","title":{"rendered":"Brutal Turn for Climate-Change Icon Michael Mann as $1 Million Defamation Judgment Goes Up in Smoke"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">32<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fbrutal-turn-for-climate-change-icon-michael-mann-as-1-million-defamation-judgment-goes-up-in-smoke%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2410624&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>Michael\u200c Mann,a prominent climate \u2064scientist known for his\u200c &#8220;hockey stick&#8221; graph illustrating human impact on global warming,has had a legal victory in a defamation case\u2062 against two critics,Rand \u200cSimberg and Mark Steyn.\u200c Initially awarded\u2062 over $1 million in damages,the amount was considerably reduced by a court ruling that\u2063 steadfast \u2064the punitive \u2063damages were excessive\u200c in\u2062 relation to evidence of harm. The <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/judge-rules-trump-company-will-not-have-to-pay-michael-cohens-legal-bills\/\" title=\"Judge Rules Trump Company Will Not Have to Pay Michael Cohen&#039;s Legal Bills\">judge stated<\/a> that Mann had not convincingly shown he suffered business damages from Steyn&#8217;s writings. While Simberg \u2062was ordered to pay $1,000 in punitive damages, Steyn&#8217;s penalty was reduced from $1 million to $5,000. This \u200ccase highlights ongoing conflicts around climate science\u200c and its\u200b implications.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<p><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><\/p>\n<section> \t\t\t\t<script>console.log(\"ad slot (AC1)\")<\/script><script>console.log(\"ad slot (IC1)\")<\/script><script>console.log(\"ad slot (IC2)\")<\/script><script>console.log(\"ad slot (IC3)\")<\/script><script>console.log(\"ad slot (IC4)\")<\/script><\/p>\n<p>Michael Mann, a leading climate scientist, previously won over $1 million from allegations that two columnists defamed him over his claims that humans worsened climate change, but the amount in damages previously awarded to him was significantly reduced Tuesday.<\/p>\n<p>Mann, previously a professor at the Pennsylvania State University and <a href=\"https:\/\/penntoday.upenn.edu\/news\/michael-mann-appointed-vice-provost-climate-science-policy-and-action-penn\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">now<\/a> the inaugural &ldquo;vice provost for climate science, policy, and action&rdquo; at the University of Pennsylvania, created a &ldquo;hockey stick&rdquo; graph asserting that human activity led to global <a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/trumps-epa-head-lee-zeldin-needs-undue-endangerment-finding\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">warming<\/a>, according to a <a href=\"https:\/\/reason.com\/volokh\/2025\/03\/04\/punitive-damages-award-in-mann-v-steyn-reduced-from-1m-to-5k\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">report<\/a> from Reason.<\/p>\n<p>Blogger Rand Simberg and columnist Mark Steyn criticized Mann and wrote about a Penn State investigation of wrongdoings into Mann, prompting the scientist to sue for defamation.<\/p>\n<p>The comments from the two writers accused Mann of &ldquo;misconduct&rdquo; and &ldquo;wrongdoing,&rdquo; as well as &ldquo;manipulation&rdquo; and &ldquo;torture&rdquo; of data to prove his global warming thesis.<\/p>\n<p>The scientist had examined growth rings on trees and corals, ice cores from glaciers, and similar natural phenomena in an attempt to track <a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/top-skeptic-climate-fanatics-spotlights-studies-torpedo-5-decades-liberal-panic\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">climate<\/a> trends over time.<\/p>\n<p> <script type=\"text\/javascript\"> \t\t\tif ( getCookie( \"ff_subbed\" ) ) { \t\t\t\tdocument.getElementById(\"stnvideo\").remove() \t\t\t} \t\t<\/script> <\/p>\n<p>Mann also accused the National Review and the Competitive Enterprise Institute of repeating Steyn and Simberg&rsquo;s commentary.<\/p>\n<p>Though both conservative outlets were granted summary judgment in 2021, Steyn and Simberg were found liable in early 2024.<\/p>\n<p>The court awarded $1,000 in punitive damages from Simberg.<\/p>\n<p>Steyn, meanwhile, faced $1 million in damages.<\/p>\n<p>Although D.C. Superior Court Judge Alfred Irving declined to contradict the jury&rsquo;s finding that <a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/summer-heat-wave-expected-scorch-america-prepared-climate-change-nuts-will\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Mann<\/a> was indeed libeled, he significantly reduced the damages awarded, according to an excerpt of his lengthy judgment cited by Reason.<\/p>\n<p>Irving wrote that the &ldquo;million-to-one ratio of the <a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3YuVZYV\">instant award necessarily raises<\/a> a judicial eyebrow, as the punitive and compensatory awards vary by a staggering six digits.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>He also observed that the &ldquo;evidence at trial was mixed as to the true extent of injury Dr. Mann suffered.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;Unlike several of the previously cited cases, in the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/employee-4-witness-in-trump-classified-documents-case-reached-deal-with-prosecutors-ex-lawyer-says\/\" title=\"&#039;Employee 4&#039; in Trump classified documents case strikes deal with prosecutors, says ex-lawyer.\">instant case<\/a>, Dr. Mann presented no persuasive evidence suggesting that he suffered injury to his business as a result of Mr. Steyn&rsquo;s article,&rdquo; Irving continued.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;Dr. Mann presented no persuasive evidence that Mr. Steyn&rsquo;s conduct was motivated by an intent to harm Dr. Mann&rsquo;s employment.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>Irving instead ruled that Steyn would have to face $5,000 in punitive damages rather than $1 million.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;An award of punitive damages here remains appropriate given the reprehensibility of Mr. Steyn&rsquo;s conduct,&rdquo; Irving made clear.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;However, given the dollar amount of the punitive award and the lack of support of similar awards in this jurisdiction or elsewhere, a remittitur is appropriate.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<div style=\"position: relative;\">\n<div class=\"ff-fancy-header-container\"> \t\t\t \t<\/div>\n<div class=\"entry-submit-correction inner-content\">\n<div class=\"correction-form\">\n<form style=\"display: none;\">\n<div class=\"sc-name-field\"> \t\t\t\t\t\t<label>* Name<\/label> \t\t\t\t\t\t<br \/> \t\t\t\t\t\t<input type=\"text\" name=\"name\" required> \t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n<div class=\"sc--field\"> \t\t\t\t\t\t<label>* <\/label> \t\t\t\t\t\t<br \/> \t\t\t\t\t\t<input type=\"text\" name=\"\" required> \t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n<p> \t\t\t\t\t<label>* Message<\/label> \t\t\t\t\t<br \/> \t\t\t\t\t<textarea name=\"message\" required><\/textarea> \t\t\t\t\t \t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n<div class=\"required-message\" style=\"display: none; padding-bottom: 15px;\">* All fields are required.<\/div>\n<p> \t\t\t\t\t<input type=\"submit\" value=\"Submit\" onclick=\"event.preventDefault(); firefly_sc();\"> \t\t\t\t\t \t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n<div class=\"firefly-sc-confirm\" style=\"display: none;\">Success!<\/div>\n<\/p><\/form>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p> \t\t<script> \t\t\tfunction firefly_sc() { \t\t\t\tif( typeof window.captchaPublicKey==typeof undefined ){ \t\t\t\t\tconsole.error('window.captchaPublicKey is not defined'); \t\t\t\t} \t\t\t\tgrecaptcha.execute( window.captchaPublicKey, { action: 'submit_correction' } ).then( function( token ) { \t\t\t\t\tvar opts={ \t\t\t\t\t\taction:    'firefly_sc_submit', \t\t\t\t\t\tname:      document.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction [name=\"name\"]' ).value, \t\t\t\t\t\t:     document.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction [name=\"\"]' ).value, \t\t\t\t\t\tmessage:   document.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction [name=\"message\"]' ).value, \t\t\t\t\t\tpost_id:   firefly_post_id, \t\t\t\t\t\tcap_token: token \t\t\t\t\t}  \t\t\t\t\tvar inputs=[ 'name', '', 'message' ];  \t\t\t\t\tfor( var i=0; i <inputs.length; i++ ) if( ! 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However, the damages he was awarded were notably decreased on Tuesday. Mann, who was formerly a professor at Pennsylvania State University and is now the first &#8220;vice provost for climate science, policy, and action&#8221; at the University of Pennsylvania, created a &#8220;hockey stick&#8221; graph indicating that human activity contributes to global warming. According to Reason&#8217;s report, bloggers Rand Simberg and columnist Mark Steyn criticized Mann and discussed an investigation by Penn State into his conduct, leading him to file a defamation lawsuit. Their comments accused Mann of &#8220;misconduct,&#8221; &#8220;wrongdoing,&#8221; as well as manipulating data to support his global warming claims. He analyzed tree rings, coral growth patterns, ice cores from glaciers, and other natural indicators to track historical climate trends.<\/p>\n<p>Mann also claimed that the National Review and the Competitive Enterprise Institute echoed Steyn&#8217;s and Simberg\u2019s remarks. While both conservative organizations received summary judgment in 2021, Steyn and Simberg were found liable in early 2024; Simberg was ordered to pay $1,000 in punitive damages while Steyn faced $1 million.<\/p>\n<p>D.C. Superior Court Judge Alfred Irving did not dispute the jury&#8217;s conclusion that Mann had been libeled but significantly lowered the damage award amount based on his detailed judgment cited by Reason. Irving noted that there was an unusual disparity between punitive and compensatory awards: \u201cthe million-to-one ratio&#8230; raises a judicial eyebrow.\u201d He remarked on mixed evidence regarding how much harm Dr. Mann actually suffered due to Mr. Steyn\u2019s article: \u201cDr. Mann presented no persuasive evidence suggesting injury to his business or intent from Mr. Steyn\u2019s actions.\u201d Ultimately, Irving decided that instead of $1 million in punitive damages for Steyn it would be reduced to $5,000 but still deemed appropriate due to the severity of his conduct while acknowledging insufficient support for such high awards within this jurisdiction or elsewhere<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":2410625,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/Michael-Mann.jpg","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[],"tags":[51667,51668,51666],"class_list":["post-2410624","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","tag-climate-change-2","tag-defamation-judgment","tag-michael-mann"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/Michael-Mann.jpg","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2410624","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2410624"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2410624\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2410628,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2410624\/revisions\/2410628"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2410625"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2410624"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2410624"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2410624"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}