Skorupski's Law

What the University's lawyers said

The University of St Andrews has twice attempted, through its solicitors, to suppress this website.

In a letter to me dated 21 September 2004, the University's solicitors stated that their clients consider that "the terms of the material [on the website] are untrue and defamatory". I advised the University's solicitors that without knowing which statements were being objected to it was difficult to know what I was supposed to be considering. However, if the University or particular individuals specified which comments they objected to, I could look at these again. I pointed out that I was, however, confident that all of the statements made by me on the site were true. (One particular document is indeed full of misrepresentations. This is a document submitted by the University's lawyers to an employment tribunal! To see this document and the list of misrepresentations it contains, click on final submissions.)

Clearly what certain people in the University wanted was not simply that I delete a few statements here and there, but, as their solicitors put it, that I refrain from making "any further comments of this nature". I pointed out to the University's solicitors that this is a free country and no-one could seriously ask me to refrain from making any further comments about my former colleagues, or anything else I chose to comment on.

Nevertheless, on 28 October 2004 the University's solicitors wrote to me again saying that "the University has asked us to repeat that you refrain from publishing or circulating statements about the institution or its staff". They also stated that the University "intends to equip affected staff with the means to rebut any defamatory statement" made by me. I replied, stating again that this is a free country and I am at liberty to publish on any issue I choose, and that naturally I expect to remain within the law. I pointed out that for a university and its lawyers to attempt to prevent an individual from airing any opinion on a particular subject, and from drawing attention to his publications, is a worrying development. I also pointed out that I have taken great care to ensure that none of the statements made by me on my website is false and drew their attention to my earlier offer to consider any particular statement that any individual objected to. Any defamation action will be vigorously defended.

The author

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Skorupski's Law: "The more vain one's ambition, the more redundant one's grasp of morality"