Last month we noted that the US government had agreed to pay $5.8 million to Steven Hatfill, a bio-defence researcher who was linked to the 2001 anthrax incidents by the media.

Hatfill was identified as a suspect despite there being, in one judge’s words, “not a scintilla of evidence” that he was involved. However a federal appeals court has confirmed the dismissal of his defamation suit against the New York Times.

The Times says:

Under a landmark 1964 Supreme Court ruling, a public figure must demonstrate that a publication acted with “actual malice” to succeed in a defamation suit. That meant that Dr. Hatfill had to show that The Times knew or suspected that any suggestion he was involved in the anthrax attacks was false and published the articles anyway.

More coverage

New York Times wins ruling in anthrax libel case – Reuters

Dismissal of Suit Over Anthrax Stories Upheld – Washington Post