A Stanford University professor, who recently caught media attention for suing critics of his renewable energy research, has been ordered to bear costs exceeding $500,000 in attorney fees, despite his decision to drop the lawsuit. This directive came from the D.C. Court of Appeals on Thursday, after a comprehensive review of the case.
The professor’s research in renewable energy had been questioned by a group of critics, who were later dragged to court on charges of defamation. As the legal proceedings unfolded, the professor, for reasons undisclosed, decided to terminate the litigation.
However, the court, underlining the principle that an individual who initiates legal proceedings must bear the consequences of their actions irrespective of whether the litigation sees its logical conclusion or not, declared that the professor needs to cover his critics’ attorney fees, which are stated to be over $500,000.
Learn more about the proceedings of this unique case in the original publication by Law360 here.