This just in. Here’s a potential bombshell for the Mann:
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Popcorn futures* continue their unprecedented climb:
UPDATE: Sunday 10/28 Mark Steyn writes an uproariously funny but at the same time stinging evisceration of Dr. Mann on his private website titled The fraudulent Nobel Laureate
This part says it all, I’d make it “Quote of the Week”, but then I don’t want to fragment this thread:
When a man sues for damage to his reputation and grossly inflates that reputation in the very court filings, that says something about his credibility.
He also links to this thoughtful essay by Dr. Roger Pielke Jr.
Mann’s embellishment has placed him in a situation where his claims are being countered by the Nobel organization itself.
*There are no popcorn futures markets, the graph is based on a corn future market graph, just for fun
Read Steyn’s latest here: The fraudulent Nobel Laureate
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Mark Steyn takes note of the airbrushing going on in Mike’s Nobel Trick:
A week ago, Michael Mann accused us of damaging his reputation – and seems to have made it a self-fulfilling prophecy. A week ago, he was a “Nobel prize recipient”. Now he’s not. Great work, Mike!
Dr. Judith Curry sends some advice in her week in review:
“JC message to Michael Mann: Mark Steyn is [a] formidable opponent. I suspect that this is not going to turn out well for you.”
Read more at JudithCurry.com
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FLASH: 10/26 7:30AM The Nobel committee responds to Mann’s “certificate”, says he can’t claim he won it (the Nobel prize itself).
See below. – ALSO National Review makes phone call to Nobel committee, audio and transcript below.
NOTE: This is a top sticky post for awhile since the interest is high. New stories appear below this one. UPDATE – legal complaint added, plus a new opinion piece by Chris Horner regarding claims of exoneration has been added – see below the “continue reading” line. UPDATE2: Steyn responds, see below.
UPDATE 3: Steyn responds even further, saying:
“Over the years, I’ve been sued and threatened with suits in various countries around the world but I’ve never before seen a plaintiff make such a transparently false assertion right up front in the biographical resumé.”
Details (and a photo to back up Steyn) below.
UPDATE4: CEI officially responds to the lawsuit, and Steyn mocks Mann even more with a priceless zinger, see below.
In related news, popcorn futures explode go nuclear.
More details to follow.
From Michael Mann’s Facebook page.
Lawsuit filed against The National Review and the Competitive Enterprise Institute 10/22/12
Today, the case of Dr. Michael E. Mann vs. The National Review and The Competitive Enterprise Institute was filed in the Superior Court of the District of Columbia. Dr. Mann, a Professor and Director of the Earth System Science Center at Pennsylvania State University, has instituted this lawsuit against the two organizations, along with two of their authors, based upon their false and defamatory statements accusing him of academic fraud and comparing him to a convicted child molester, Jerry Sandusky. Dr. Mann is being represented by John B. Williams of the law firm of Cozen O’Connor in Washington, D.C. (http://www.cozen.com/attorney_detail.asp?d=1&atid=1406).
Dr. Mann is a climate scientist whose research has focused on global warming. In 2007, along with Vice President Al Gore and his colleagues of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, he was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for having “created an ever-broader informed consensus about the connection between human activities and global warming.”
Nevertheless, the defendants assert that global warming is a “hoax,” and have accused Dr. Mann of improperly manipulating the data to reach his conclusions.
In response to these types of accusations, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the National Science Foundation and seven other organizations have conducted investigations into Dr. Mann’s work, finding any and all allegations of academic fraud to be baseless. Every investigation—and every replication of Mann’s work—has concluded that his research and conclusions were properly conducted and fairly presented.
Despite their knowledge of the results of these many investigations, the defendants have nevertheless accused Dr. Mann of academic fraud and have maliciously attacked his personal reputation with the knowingly false comparison to a child molester. The conduct of the defendants is outrageous, and Dr. Mann will be seeking judgment for both compensatory and punitive damages.
Journalists interested in further information regarding the filing of this lawsuit may contact Dr. Mann’s attorney at 202-912-4848, or jbwilliams@cozen.com.
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I’m sure Mark Steyn is thrilled with the prospect of now being able to do additional commentary on this side show. I can’t wait for depositions and discovery.
UPDATES:
Here is the legal complaint: http://legaltimes.typepad.com/files/michael-mann-complaint.pdf
Chris Horner has this opinion piece now which explains his opinion on why Dr. Michael Mann was never fully investigated and thus never exonerated.
Mark Steyn responds with: I’ll have more to say about this when I’ve stopped laughing.
Mark Steyn writes in a further update:
Actually, it’s worse than that. I’ve just read the official indictment or whatever you call it against NR, and he makes the claim that he has been “awarded the Nobel Peace Prize” in the complaint itself (page 2, paragraph 2).
Over the years, I’ve been sued and threatened with suits in various countries around the world but I’ve never before seen a plaintiff make such a transparently false assertion right up front in the biographical resumé.
And I’ve got the photo of Dr. Mann’s award (shown from his office window) to back up what Steyn says here.
Note it says “for contributing to” not awarded to.
Be careful, don’t choke on your popcorn while laughing.
UPDATE4:
CEI has released it’s official statement on the lawsuit on their website here: http://cei.org/news-releases/climate-scientist-sues-cei
The say:
One of our attorneys, Bruce D. Brown of Baker Hostetler, expertly laid out the legal arguments against Mann’s defamation claim. In short, Dr. Mann is a public figure, and under libel law he would need to meet an exceedingly high standard to prevail. Given the support that Simberg’s criticisms rest on, that standard simply can’t be met. As for Simberg’s Sandusky metaphor, it was purely that—a metaphor.
They are also inviting readers to comment on the CEI Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/CompetitiveEnterpriseInstitute/posts/428205930566869
Meanwhile, Mark Steyn whips out an example of his rapier wit over Mann’s “Nobel Prize” claims (see photo above) writing:
On the one hand, Michael Mann’s own web page:
He shared the Nobel Peace Prize with other IPCC authors in 2007.
On the other, the Nobel committee:
Only persons named explicitly in the citation may claim to share a Nobel Prize.
So we’re being sued for loss of reputation by a fake Nobel laureate. Hilarious.
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FLASH The Nobel committee responds to Mann’s “certificate” From Tom Richard at Climate Change Dispatch and at The Examiner
I contacted the The Norwegian Nobel Institute to find out if Mann was indeed a Nobel Laureate, winner, etc…
…snip…
Geir Lundestad, Director, Professor, or The Norwegian Nobel Institute emailed me back with the following:
1) Michael Mann has never been awarded the Nobel Peace Prize.
2) He did not receive any personal certificate. He has taken the diploma awarded in 2007 to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (and to Al Gore) and made his own text underneath this authentic-looking diploma.
3) The text underneath the diploma is entirely his own. We issued only the diploma to the IPCC as such. No individuals on the IPCC side received anything in 2007.
(NOTE: on point 3, another example here (PDF) suggests that the IPCC added that text, not Mann – Anthony)
Lundestad goes on to say that, “Unfortunately we often experience that members of organizations that have indeed been awarded the Nobel Peace Prize issue various forms of personal diplomas to indicate that they personally have received the Nobel Peace Prize. They have not.”
Full story at Climate Change Dispatch and at The Examiner
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ALSO: From NRO’s “The Corner” a call to the Nobel committee by Charles C. W. Cooke:
TRANSCRIPT
Cooke: Hello there, do you speak English?
Nobel Committee: Yes, can I help you?
Cooke: I’m a writer. I’m wondering if I could ask you about previous winners of the Nobel Peace Prize?
Nobel Committee: Oh, could you speak a little bit louder. It’s difficult for me to hear.
Cooke: Sorry. I’m trying to look for some information about previous winners of the Nobel Peace Prize.
Nobel Committee: Which one?
Cooke: I was wondering, has Dr. Michael Mann ever won the Nobel Peace Prize?
Nobel Committee: No, no. He has never won the Nobel prize.
Cooke: He’s never won it?
Nobel Committee: No.
Cooke: Oh, it says on his-
Nobel Committee: The organization won it. It’s not a personal prize to people belonging to an organization.
Cooke: Okay. So if I were to write that he’d won it, that would be incorrect?
Nobel Committee: That is incorrect, yes. Is it you that sent me an email today? I got an e-mail from our Stockholm office regarding Michael Mann.
Cooke: Oh. No, I didn’t send you an e-mail.
Nobel Committee: Oh. So what’s your name?
Cooke: My name is Charles Cooke.
Nobel Committee: And you work for?
Cooke: I write for National Review.
Nobel Committee: Okay, because I’ve got something from Boston and NY Mental Examiner that asked about the same thing.
Cooke: Oh, okay. Well maybe this is a big question. Okay, but he hasn’t won it. That is the answer.
Nobel Committee: No, he has not won it at all.
Cooke: Okay. Perfect. Thank you very much.
Nobel Committee: Thank you. You’re welcome. Bye bye.
given michael mann knew about the Frontline prog in advance –
“@MichaelEMann
@timmytimj82 Spent half a day w/ them. Talked about #climatechange #denial campaign. It all ended up on cutting room floor “
i do wonder when exactly Mann began the process of filing suit against NRO. we know some interviews done for the program go back as far as May, and presumably Fronline contacted Heartland prior to that date to explain and arrange that particular interview:
23 Oct: WUWT: Heartland Institute Anticipates Unfair Treatment in Tonight’s PBS Frontline Special ‘Climate of Doubt’
The Heartland Institute is likely to be a central figure in this program as we welcomed “Frontline” producer Catherine Upin and her crew to our Seventh International Conference on Climate Change in Chicago in May. Heartland Institute Senior Fellow James M. Taylor also gave a three-hour interview to the film crew in August…
http://wattsupwiththat.com/2012/10/23/heartland-institute-anticipates-unfair-treatment-in-tonights-pbs-frontline-special-climate-of-doubt/#more-72921
for the record, it would be interesting to find out precisely –
when Mann was first contacted by PBS and made aware of the program,
when he he was – according to him – interviewed for the program,
and precisely when he began the process of filing the suit.
All sway together now and sing:
“All we are say’n, is give (peace =>) Mann (a chance =>) the Peace!”
@zootcadillac says:
October 26, 2012 at 4:19 pm
I think you may have misunderstood my post.
My praise was FOR the Congressional Medal of Honor -of which I believe there is no higher honor for personal sacrifice by military personnel -and against comparing it to the so-called Nobel Peace Prize.
Isn’t it appropriate for Penn State to initiate an investigation into Dr. Mann’s ethics when Dr. Mann’s legal complaint against NR et. al. claims Dr. Mann, along with others, was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize?
So, Mann is now saying it’s alright for him to claim to have received the Nobel prize, because…other IPCC scientists have made that claim.
Next, he will assert that the CONSENSUS of IPCC scientists is that they have a right to claim that they have been awarded the prize. Of course, this is in stark contrast to the reality, as represented by the Nobel Prize association itself, that they are not allowed to claim that.
But my feeling is that some folks have always believed that reality is simply an inconvenient obstacle to the political truth.
Hmmm…
Is the nasty mann seeking to get editors fired from the Nobel prize committee? Perhaps he intends to start his own NASTY award group and let the old Nobel committee wither on the vine? /sarc unwillingly, though I could do this for hours.
It isn’t a good day in court when a plaintiff has to begin his claim of defamation by ‘defending’ fabrications and false claims in the suit itself.
I think CEI and NRO should play it cool to start. Let Mann dig himself a mighty hole in front of the judge and then help the judge toos him out court. Remember, the slated judge to sit the case has a number of reviewers saying she sides with the defenders, has a temper and absolutely no patience. Yup, encourage the pith up mann to keep speaking.
Plus, any and all twits by the twit should be moderated and saved. Twit mann just might let some zingers out at the Nobel committee and the judge.
Tim says:
October 26, 2012 at 3:46 pm
glad you’re all enjoying your jolly ……. carry on!
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Why not indeed? It probably won’t be so jolly when the time comes for retribution for this f—–, a f—- on a scale that makes Bernie Madoff look like a petty pickpocket.
Seems like Michael Mann is not a very bright man.
Iana lawyer. Sadly, Mann’s signature does not appear on the legal complaint, so he can’t be said to have made any of the claims found therein.
Mann probably doesn’t want this thread of the sweater of not really being a Nobel prize winner pulled because he may be afraid it may lead to his whole farrago coming unraveled. So his solution is to pull hard on the thread himself.
I seem to recall that Chis Monckton also claimed to be a Nobel Laureate for his contribution to the IPCC in 2007.
Anyone want to criticise him as well, or are your criticisms restricted only to those people you don’t like?
Hypocrites!
AB says: October 26, 2012 at 4:17 pm
Is this how the jury will respond to Mann’s “Nobel”?
No! The laughter will last a lot longer than one minute six seconds.
Poor Tim.
http://thepointman.wordpress.com/2010/12/07/the-death-of-the-agw-belief-system/
Pointman
It seems Manns reference in one of his tweets to the Wiki page of Steve Running has prompted a quick page revision by user ‘Q Science’.
From:
A recognized expert in global ecosystem monitoring, Running was invited to serve on the board of the [[Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change]] (IPCC), and in this role was awarded the 2007 [[Nobel Peace Prize]]
To:
A recognized expert in global ecosystem monitoring, Running was invited to serve on the board of the [[Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change]] (IPCC). In 2007, the IPCC was awarded the [[Nobel Peace Prize]]
lol.
mandas,
You must know the difference: Mann is accusing others of making things up about him — while he is suing based on his bogus reputation. Would you label Mann a hypocrite, or not?
Hi Mandas,
If Monckton did claim to be a 2007 Peace Prize winner — which I don’t recall, and if you would, please, provide citations — I suspect it was with much the same tone and with the same intent that Steyn claims to be a 2012 winner (as citizen of the EU). Not claiming an honor but emphasizing the dilution.
But I could be wrong, which is why I’d be interested for the citation and opportunity to see the quote in full context.
Anyhow, whether or not Michael Mann is the Jerry Sandusky of climate science, the outcome has been to damage Mann’s reputation. Where he was heretofore reputed to be a Nobel Prize winner — reputed on whatever basis — what was once reputed is now refuted. Michael Mann appears to be the Barbra Streisand of climate science, in that regard.
26 Oct: ScienceMag: scienceinsider: Puneet Kollipara: Climate Scientist Mann Faces Obstacles to Winning Libel Lawsuit, Legal Experts Say
Legal experts say he stands a shot at getting at least part of his libel case heard by a judge and jury, but he is likely to face an uphill battle if the case ever makes it to trial…
The battle over the blog posts has attracted widespread attention, with Columbia Journalism Review writer Curtis Brainard calling Simberg and Steyn’s claims “deplorable, if not unlawful.”
But a number of legal experts say Mann’s suit faces some obstacles.
“Libel lawsuits are not about whether journalism or commentary is misleading or irresponsible,” says Peter Canfield, a partner at the Atlanta office of national law firm Dow Lohnes, who has counseled newspapers and other media outlets. “What the lawsuit is about is whether it contains false statements of facts that the authors knew to be false or seriously doubted to be true. That is a very high burden for a plaintiff to bear, particularly with respect to an issue such as this one that is such a hot topic of public debate.”
Mann faces a second barrier because a court is likely to determine that he is a “public figure” and not a private citizen, some experts say…
http://news.sciencemag.org/scienceinsider/2012/10/climate-scientist-mann-faces-obs.html
mandas says:
“I seem to recall that Chis Monckton also claimed to be a Nobel Laureate for his contribution to the IPCC in 2007”.
roflmao.. oh ye of little understanding or intellegence.
The good Lord M did that SPECIFICALLY to get up the noses of those climate hypochondriacs claiming to have received the award when he (Lord Monckton) knew that they didn’t.
Iana lawyer. Sadly, Mann’s signature does not appear on the legal complaint, so he can’t be said to have made any of the claims found therein.
IANAL, but I don’t think it matters. By my understanding the complaint will have to be amended.
JohnWho says: “Would Mann’s withdrawing of the suit imply that he is admitting that what he alleged was said about him is correct?”
That is what I will be commenting, should MM withdraw. MM only has only one out now, and that is to win in court, including appeals. Otherwise he is a loser.
You really wanna go there?
(He did that to tweak you … and, it worked a charm!)
“Demonstrating absurdity by being absurd.”
.
RDCII says:October 26, 2012 at 5:30 pm
So, Mann is now saying it’s alright for him to claim to have received the Nobel prize, because…other IPCC scientists have made that claim.”
There’s a consensus amongst the IPCC “scientists” that they have won the Nobel Prize. I think the exact number is 97%….so therefore it must be true
@RT
“A recognized expert in global ecosystem monitoring, Running was invited to serve on the board of the [[Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change]] (IPCC). In 2007, the IPCC was awarded the [[Nobel Peace Prize]]”
And the tea person who served tea and biscuits to the board meetings of the IPCC also played an integral part in the IPCC receiving the award. Probably a more honest, productive role.
“Geir Lundestad, Director, Professor, or The Norwegian Nobel Institute emailed me back with the following:
1) Michael Mann has never been awarded the Nobel Peace Prize.
2) He did not receive any personal certificate. He has taken the diploma awarded in 2007 to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (and to Al Gore) and made his own text underneath this authentic-looking diploma.
3) The text underneath the diploma is entirely his own. We issued only the diploma to the IPCC as such. No individuals on the IPCC side received anything in 2007.”
Ouch !!!!
mandas says:
October 26, 2012 at 5:44 pm
I seem to recall that Chis Monckton also claimed to be a Nobel Laureate for his contribution to the IPCC in 2007.
Anyone want to criticise him as well, or are your criticisms restricted only to those people you don’t like?
Hypocrites!
——-
“Christopher Walter, the third Viscount Monckton of Brenchley, has conceded that his claim to have won the Nobel Peace Prize in 2007 was a joke.
Lord Monckton, a prominent climate sceptic, is on a sponsored speaking tour to undermine support for carbon emissions cuts. Quizzed about his alleged Nobel status by the Herald yesterday, the British peer said ”it was a joke, a joke” and never meant to be taken seriously.”
————
Monckton was mocking his fellow pseudo-laureates. Is that lost on you, mandas?
People make jokes about the ridiculous, and there is nothing more ridiculous Climate “Science”.