Harvard prof files $25 million lawsuit against the university, alleging sexism
Gino's attorney argues that the university held a male employee in a similar investigation to different standards, even promoting him.
Harvard Business School Professor Francesca Gino recently sued her employer for allegations of defamation, breach of contract, and gender discrimination.
On Aug. 2, Harvard Business School Professor Francesca Gino filed a $25 million lawsuit against the university for accusing her of data fabrication, claiming that the accusation is really due to sexism.
The allegations include defamation, breach of contract, bad faith and gender discrimination, based on what Gino says are false allegations of research misconduct.
“I want to be very clear: I have never, ever falsified data or engaged in research misconduct of any kind,” Gino said in a LinkedIn post. “Today I had no choice but to file a lawsuit against Harvard University and members of the Data Colada group, who worked together to destroy my career and reputation despite admitting they have no evidence proving their allegations.”
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Gino said she was investigated under a new policy “specific to her case” while her male counterparts in similar situations were treated under existing policies. The lawsuit cites a Harvard investigation into a male junior faculty member for “allegations of research misconduct” in which the school ultimately “protected [his] confidentiality” and “promoted him to tenure.”
The lawsuit states that Gino has been “stripped of her salary,” “derailed” from her career, and has “suffered severe emotional distress.”
On June 13, the university announced that Gino was placed on administrative leave after Data Colada, a blog operated by Professors Uri Simonsohn of Barcelona, Leif D. Nelson of UC Berkeley, and Joseph P. Simmons of the University of Pennsylvania, investigated Gino’s research and reported to Harvard Business School about her alleged falsified data in various research papers.
“We’re not commenting on Prof. Gino at this time,” Harvard University’s Head of Communications Mark Cautela told Campus Reform.
The blog allegedly “threatened” to post the allegations publicly, subjecting both Gino and Harvard Business School to “public scrutiny,” the lawsuit claims. Without Gino’s knowledge, Harvard allegedly negotiated an agreement with Data Colada in which the university would investigate her and report the findings to the blog in exchange for its silence.
“The more I learn about the process used in these investigations, the more troubled I am. Prof. Gino’s career and life have been shattered without any proof she did anything wrong,” Prof. Frances Frei, Professor of Technology and Operations Management at Harvard Business School told Campus Reform. “I’m honestly shocked. As a fellow professor and researcher, it’s disturbing and frankly terrifying. And if this can happen to her, it can happen to anyone.”
“Harvard’s complete and utter disregard for evidence, due process and confidentiality should frighten all academic researchers,” Gino’s attorney and official spokesperson Andrew T. Miltenberg told Campus Reform. “The University’s lack of integrity in its review process stripped Prof. Gino of her rights, career and reputation – and failed miserably with respect to gender equity.”
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“The bias and uneven application of oversight in this case is appalling. Data Colada’s vicious take-down of Prof Gino is also completely baseless – they recently admitted that they have no evidence that Prof. Gino engaged in any misconduct,” Miltenberg added.
