David Sabatini, a former Massachusetts Institute of Technology (M.I.T.) biology professor, was awarded $6 million in a defamation lawsuit against Kristin Knouse, a colleague who had accused him of sexual harassment. The verdict was delivered by a Suffolk County jury on Friday, nearly five years after Sabatini filed the suit.
Sabatini, who ran a research lab at the Whitehead Institute in Cambridge for 24 years, was a leading figure in cellular biology. His lab's research focused on understanding neurodegenerative diseases, cancer, diabetes, and aging. He was forced to leave M.I.T. and the Whitehead Institute in 2021 following an internal investigation, which concluded that Sabatini had engaged in a past sexual relationship with Knouse, a younger and less experienced colleague under his professional influence. The investigation also cited an inappropriate, sexualized atmosphere within Sabatini’s lab. Knouse described the relationship as coerced.
Sabatini has consistently denied any wrongdoing, maintaining that the relationship was consensual and asserting that Knouse sought to have him removed after he developed an interest in another woman. He also rejected claims that his lab environment was improper.
Following the jury’s decision, Sabatini called the outcome “surreal” and said he had long hoped for a resolution that would restore his reputation. “Before, I was judged as having a great lab and for providing great mentoring,” he said. “For the most part, my trainees have been there for me through this. I hope that I can get back to being judged by my science and my training.”
Knouse, who is currently an assistant professor of biology at M.I.T. and affiliated with the Koch Institute for Integrative Cancer Research, denied the allegations through her attorney, Ellen Zucker. Zucker announced plans to appeal the verdict, emphasizing the challenges women continue to face in being believed in cases involving power dynamics and sexual misconduct. “The sad reality of our time is that society still has a difficult time believing women and appreciating the difficulty they encounter with men who too often control their fate,” Zucker said, adding that Knouse had “come into court and told the truth.”
Sabatini’s career faced significant setbacks following the allegations. An attempted appointment at New York University in 2022 was abandoned after protests from students and staff. In 2023, he accepted a position with the Institute of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry in Prague and subsequently established a branch of the institute in the Boston area. He has since divided his time between the Czech Republic and Massachusetts.
The jury also rejected Knouse’s counterclaims accusing Sabatini of harassment and retaliation, concluding that Sabatini had proven defamation and interference with his professional work. The case underscores ongoing disputes within academia over misconduct allegations and the complexities surrounding such high-profile legal battles.