A prominent Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) biology professor and researcher has filed a lawsuit, claiming he was unjustly ousted from the biomedical institute where he worked over false sexual harassment claims concocted by a vengeful jilted lover.
Dr David Sabatini, 53, is suing The Whitehead institute at MIT, its director, Dr Ruth Lehmann, and his former colleague and paramour - a scientist in her early 30s whom DailyMail.com is not naming because she claims to be a victim of sexual misconduct.
The lawsuit alleges defamation, wrongful interference with employment, and intentional and negligent infliction of emotional distress. Sabatini is seeking unspecified damages and attorneys’ fees.
According to the 72-page civil complaint, which was filed in court on Wednesday, Sabatini - described in the filing as a 'brilliant scientist' - had a 16-month-long consensual sexual relationship with his accuser, who worked with him at the institute.
Dr David Sabatini, 53, a prominent professor of biology at MIT, has filed a lawsuit, claiming he was forced out of his job over false sexual harassment claims made by a jilted lover
Until August, Sabatini ran a research lab at the prestigious Whitehead Institute at MIT
Sabatini was separated from his wife and heading for a divorce at the time, and his lab lover allegedly made it clear to him that she was not interested in an exclusive relationship and had other sexual partners.
After Sabatini pulled the plug on the relationship in July 2019, his lover and colleague 'continued to attempt to engage with him sexually and emotionally despite his repeated requests that she stop,' according to the documents.
When Sabatini made it clear that he was pursuing a romantic relationship with another woman in Europe, his now-former girlfriend 'became determined to destroy Dr. Sabatini' and get him fired by falsely claiming that he had sexually harassed her, according to the complaint.
Sabatini's lawsuit names Dr Ruth Lehmann, the director of The Whitehead, as a defendant
The female researcher went to Dr Lehmann, the head of the institute, and claimed to have experienced 'harassment' at Sabatini's lab, which allegedly prompted the
