Hutchinson versus Proxmire

Describes the series of lawsuits filed by experimental psychologist R. Hutchinson against US Senator W. Proxmire, claiming that Proxmire defamed Hutchinson's professional and academic standing. Proxmire gave a Golden Fleece "award" for federal waste of public funds to Hutchinson for his work on aggression with monkeys. Hutchinson lost his funding, and he sued for defamation. The Supreme Court eventually decided in Hutchinson's favor and ruled on the issue of scientists as public figures (for purposes of defamation suits).