James Cook University Appealing $1.2M Judgment Awarded To Peter Ridd

Great Barrier Reef scientist Peter Ridd is heading back to court. Astoundingly, John Cook University (JCU) has appealed the verdict ruled against them in court last month for firing Ridd and which awarded him $1.2 million in damages, in part for JCU’s appallingly behavior.

Peter is asking for additional funds to mount a defense to take this fight to the highest court in Australia. I have made my donation and on his behalf, I ask readers to support this important issue if they are able.

This sort of attack on professional scholars who legitimately challenge the work of their colleagues – just because the questions pertain to the topic of human-caused climate change – must stop.

Such stifling of academic freedom by universities goes against the very essence of scientific inquiry and advancement of knowledge. I’ve had my share of it and it stinks.

Please help if you can: https://www.gofundme.com/f/peter-ridd-legal-action-fund

From Peter Ridd this morning on his academic freedom/free speech lawsuit against his former employer, John Cook University:

JCU APPEALS.

We must fight again, and will need about $1.5M AUD to take this as far as the High Court if necessary.

Last year I was fired by James Cook University after saying that Great Barrier Reef science institutions were untrustworthy due to their systemic lack of quality assurance processes. This was after a distinguished career of over 30 years working on the Great Barrier Reef and at the university.

With remarkable public support in this GoFundMe campaign, we raised legal funds to challenge the university and the Judge ruled that JCU had acted unlawfully on 28 counts and ruled that JCU should pay compensation of $1.2 million.

But now JCU has filed papers in court to appeal.

There are many important points of principle that we must fight for.

· An academic should be able to make challenging statements about controversial subjects such as the Great Barrier Reef or climate change.

· A university should never stifle debate

· The university should not silence a local scientist whose work shows that the farmers of North Queensland Australia are not destroying the Great Barrier Reef. JCU has let down its local region.

· Universities must start to reflect a greater diversity of views.

On hearing that JCU was appealing, Cheryl and I seriously considered just walking away. After all, why should I ask donors for $1.5M to fight a pointless battle that the State or Federal education ministers could settle with a phone call to JCU. $1.5M is a crazy amount that could be used for much better things.

JCU will use its infinite financial resources – effectively government money – to appeal. They have hired three or four senior barristers, one of which we are told charges over $20K per day and between them must be over $40K per day.

Last week JCU also stayed the judgement and capped my access to the compensation for legal fees.

So I must very regretfully ask again for help. We need the best legal assistance to ensure a win. My fabulous legal team led by Stuart Wood AM QC has greatly discounted their costs so far. But appeals are horribly expensive and we need to be prepared to ultimately go to the High Court.

Your donation, great or small, will not just help me fund this essential battle, it will also send a powerful message to governments about what the public expect of our universities. It might well take a couple of months to reach the target.

It is a crazy world that we have to spend this much for legal costs, but this is a fight that we have to win because of the principles it represents.

I have little doubt that we will win.

Note: because the public already donated $260K to this fund for the original court case, the target is set to $1.760M ($260K plus $1.5M). Note this does not include the funds that Cheryl and I have contributed so far (about $200K). Any funds that might be left over will be donated for Science Quality Assurance purposes or to promote academic freedom.

Background on the case available here: https://www.gofundme.com/f/peter-ridd-legal-action-fund