Mark Steyn Goes to Trial

October 28, 2023 by John Hinderaker in Climate, Free Speech, Law

After more than 11 long years, jury selection in Michael Mann’s defamation case against Mark Steyn and others begins on Monday. I had lost track of this case as it wended its tortuous way through the courts, and tried to catch up with it by watching Mark’s deposition, the two short halves of which you can see here and here. The deposition does not lack for entertainment value, but as I watched it, I wondered, how can this terrible case possibly be going to trial? How could Mark Steyn not have gotten summary judgment?..............Mark Steyn Goes to Trial

 My Take - Mann lost the same SLAPP trial in Canada because he refused to turn over the data, which was required, which is what he promised, and in Canadian courts, that's considered an admission of guilt..  SLAPP suits are in civil matters what Lawfare is in politics.  Bankrupt anyone who disagree with you into forced silence.   

In both the Ball suit and the Steyn suit Mann didn't expect to be challenged in what's called a SLAPP suit, which stand for Strategic lawsuit against public participation.  In Canada Ball could have defended himself on the right of "public participation", he instead chose what's called the the Truth Defense, also know in Canada the "scorched earth defense", and Mann lost.  

He refused to turn over the data the court required, which in Canada is considered an admission of guilt.  He'll have to do it here.  Mann's intimidation tactics failed, so he's kept the legal mill churning hoping the costs will skyrocket out of control, which it has, forcing everyone to walk away.  That's hasn't  happened.  Apparently his legal understanding is as weak as his science.  Suing someone is like riding a tiger.  You can't just get off and say, I was just joking.    

• Here's my Tim Ball file 
• Here's my Mann file.  
• Here's my Mark Steyn file