Bill Ackman publicly writes to MIT president and board chair, requesting clarification on whether the school will terminate Knouse and restore Sabatini's tenure
On October 16, a jury in Suffolk County Superior Court unanimously ruled in favor of former MIT professor David Sabatini in his defamation and tortious interference lawsuit against Kristin Knouse, awarding him $6 million plus interest. The jury dismissed Knouse's counterclaim.
Knouse had accused Sabatini of coercive sexual relations and creating a hostile work environment. Sabatini described the relationship as consensual, beginning in 2018 and ending after he sought other partners. An internal investigation by the Whitehead Institute in 2021 found that he violated workplace relationship policies, leading MIT to revoke his tenure and HHMI to terminate his employment.
The trial lasted about three weeks, following five years of litigation. Sabatini's lawyer stated that his reputation has been restored. Knouse's lawyer indicated plans to appeal, claiming she presented the truth in court.
Bill Ackman publicly wrote to the MIT president and board chair, requesting clarification on whether the school will terminate Knouse and restore Sabatini's tenure. Ackman had previously pledged about $25 million with anonymous donors to support Sabatini in rebuilding his lab.
The jury found that Knouse's statements constituted defamation and interfered with Sabatini's professional contract and prospects. The financial compensation will go to Sabatini, while the personnel decisions made by the institution based on the related allegations remain independent of this civil judgment.
Source: Public information
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David Sabatini was a significant researcher in the mTOR signaling pathway, having worked at Whitehead and MIT for many years. He left his position after an investigation into his relationship with younger colleague Kristin Knouse in 2021, subsequently filing a defamation lawsuit. His path shifted from academic star to revoked tenure, and now to receiving compensation through a civil jury.
On the capital front, Bill Ackman, through the Pershing Square Foundation and anonymous donors, provided about $25 million to support Sabatini in rebuilding his lab, while publicly requesting MIT to explain its personnel decisions after the verdict. The strategic motive is to support his continued research and to question the institution's handling based on the related allegations.
Similar cases involve favorable judgments obtained through civil defamation lawsuits following accusations during the #MeToo era. There is currently a public discussion on the differences between institutional investigations and court rulings, with Knouse planning to appeal.
This essentially pertains to adjustments in regulatory and reputational mechanisms. After the civil jury found defamation and interference, it calls for the institution to reassess personnel decisions made based on the same statements, separating the court's factual determinations from the enforcement of university internal policies, while promoting transparency through public inquiry.
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The jury said it was defamation, the institution had already dismissed him.
$6 million in compensation is written in the judgment, tenure is still outside.
The appeal is not over, public inquiry has already begun.