A defamation lawsuit may kill National Review

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5. Defamation hard to prove but not impossible. Publicly accusing a research scientist of fraud

with no proof just may be something which would qualify because the integrity of a research scientist goes directly to the ability to be considered for positions, receive promotions, etc. And airing those accusations in a national magazine without affording Mann an opportunity to defend his reputation is particularly egregious. If National Review were smart about this they would find a way to settle with Mann and cut it's ties with Steyn. Mann might at least drop the suit against the magazine with the right kind of apology and perhaps a token payment toward Mann's legal fees. Certainly given Steyn's outburst against the judge it does not seem that National Review has any further responsibility to Steyn. Most employers have some kind of clause that the responsibility to defend their employee in court ends when the employee deliberately damages the legal case with inappropriate behavior.