A prominent Harvard scholar who has been accused of data falsification is fiercely defending her reputation, filing a defamation lawsuit that argues she faces gender discrimination and defamation of character.<\/p>\n
Harvard Business School Professor Francesca Gino filed the lawsuit<\/a> in August against the university and the trio of data scientists who accused her of falsifying data in as many as four separate research papers.<\/p>\n A statement provided by Gino\u2019s representatives to The College Fix<\/em> from her attorney, Andrew Miltenberg, argues that Harvard showed disregard for evidence, due process and confidentiality when it suspended Gino without pay.<\/p>\n \u201cThe University\u2019s lack of integrity in its review process stripped Prof. Gino of her rights, career and reputation \u2013 and failed miserably with respect to gender equity,\u201d Miltenberg said.<\/p>\n Among its proposed points against the university and the scientists, the lawsuit alleges that \u201cHarvard\u2019s gender bias against women was a motivating factor in HBS\u2019s [Harvard Business School] decision to subject Plaintiff to an onerous investigation and to impose upon her severe penalties, including unpaid administrative leave for two years.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cHarvard and HBS are also known for treating female faculty less favorably than male faculty,\u201d it added.<\/p>\n The three professors named in the lawsuit are Joseph Simmons of the University of Pennsylvania, Uri Simonsohn of the Escade Business School in Spain, and Leif Nelson of the University of California, Berkeley.<\/p>\n They accused<\/a> Gino of committing data fraud in a four<\/a>–part<\/a> blog<\/a> series<\/a> for a blog called \u201cData Colada.\u201d The accusations were published periodically over this summer after they were first presented to Harvard in July 2021.<\/p>\n In response, Gino filed a lawsuit on Aug. 3 after being notified that she would be placed<\/a> on administrative leave and revoked<\/a> of her professorship, according to the Harvard Crimson.<\/em><\/p>\n The lawsuit alleges that Harvard Business School and the three scientists collaborated against Gino and her research despite lack of evidence, which resulted in \u201csevere emotional distress,\u201d among other consequences.<\/p>\n The Fix<\/em> contacted in recent weeks via email Simmons, Simonsohn and Nelson for their comment on the lawsuit. None have responded.<\/p>\n But the scholars have discussed the lawsuit on their blog.<\/p>\n