Federal Judge Allows Defamation Lawsuit Against Best-Selling Economist to Proceed

FAME AND DEFAME? In a ruling that might make scholars a bit warier of pressing the "send" button, a federal judge has allowed the economist John R. Lott Jr.'s defamation lawsuit against his rival Steven D. Levitt to proceed.

When Mr. Levitt criticized Mr. Lott's conduct in a private e-mail message to a colleague in 2005, Mr. Levitt might have committed an act of libel, according to a decision (http://johnrlott.tripod.com /Lott_v._Levitt_2007.pdf) handed down in early January by Judge

Digital or Print Subscription

Already have an account? Log In Now.