Mark Steyn and the Reversal of Fortune
3rd April 2025
More than a year later Judge Irving responded. He did not order a new trial, but given how expensive and time-consuming that would be, arguably did something more useful. He ordered the punitive damages against Steyn, which he called “grossly excessive,” reduced to a mere five thousand dollars, the “maximum” sum Steyn’s attorney had suggested was reasonable.
But there was more good news to come. A week later, Judge Irving responded to Steyn’s motion that Mann pay legal fees. While only partially granting the motion, Judge Irving’s rhetoric was scathing.
What especially infuriated him was the Mann team’s false claims of a huge loss in grant money– which Judge Irving called “an affront to the Court’s authority.” The team had offered “plainly false evidence” and were guilty of “bad faith misconduct “… “extraordinary in its scope, extent, and intent.” Judge Irving said he would issue sanctions to cover the costs the defendants had in countering these “outright misrepresentations.” Steyn and Simberg have been told to submit their costs by the end of March and it is highly probable they will exceed the $5,000 Steyn owes in punitive damages. Simberg is already ahead when it comes to his punitive damages, since the court in January affirmed a sanctions award to him and CEI of $9,000 for other Mann team misbehavior during discovery.