Scientist awarded $6 million in damages from woman who falsely accused him of sexual harassment
American biologist David Sabatini lost his job at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) when a colleague accused him of sexual harassment. Now, a jury has concluded that the woman defamed him and ordered her to pay $6 million.
David Sabatini is a cell biology researcher. He taught at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and for 24 years led a laboratory at the Whitehead Institute in Cambridge. The scientist studied mechanisms of cell growth, important for research into cancer, diabetes, and aging.
During his work, he met a young researcher, Kristin Knouse, who was then a graduate student. Sabatini participated in the evaluation of her dissertation and later helped her obtain a research fellowship. In 2018, the woman began working at the Whitehead Institute, where an intimate relationship developed between them, lasting until 2019.
Later, their versions of events diverged. Knouse claimed that due to professional dependence on the influential scientist, she could not freely refuse the relationship, fearing for her career. Sabatini insisted that everything happened by mutual consent. According to his version, after the breakup, the woman tried to rekindle the relationship, and when he started dating someone else, she decided to retaliate, writes the New York Post.
In 2020, Knouse reported alleged sexual harassment to the institute's management. Additionally, during an internal survey, other employees complained about the atmosphere in the professor's laboratory.
The management initiated an independent investigation, which found violations of internal rules, including the policy against sexual harassment. The report also mentioned inappropriate conversations on sexual topics and employees' fear of potential repercussions from complaints.
Scientist Sabatini lost his job after harassment accusations
In August 2021, Sabatini left the Whitehead Institute after learning that management intended to terminate his employment. MIT suspended him and began its own investigation. In April 2022, the scientist finally resigned from the university after a recommendation to strip him of his permanent professorship.
An attempt to secure a position at New York University also failed. When news of his potential hiring became public, about 200 students, faculty, and alumni of the medical school protested against it. As a result, the professor did not get the position.
In 2023, Sabatini found employment at the Institute of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry in Prague, where he continued research on cell growth and metabolism. He later opened a branch of this institute in Boston.
Sabatini's lawsuit against Knouse
Back in October 2021, shortly after being dismissed from the Whitehead Institute, Sabatini filed a lawsuit against Knouse, the institute, and its management. He claimed that the false accusations destroyed his reputation and deprived him of the opportunity to continue his career. In response, the woman filed a countersuit, insisting that she was a victim of sexual harassment and abuse of power.
The legal dispute spanned five years. On October 16, 2026, a Suffolk County Superior Court jury sided with the 54-year-old Sabatini. They found that his former colleague, 38-year-old Kristin Knouse, defamed the scientist and wrongfully interfered with his professional arrangements, causing damage to his career. As a result, she was ordered to pay Sabatini $6 million in compensation.
The scientist's attorney called the verdict a restoration of justice. Knouse's representative, however, stated that her client insists on the truthfulness of her words and intends to appeal the decision.
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