Opinion ID: 445561
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: Publication of the Letter of Reprimand

Text: 14 Hanna's letter of reprimand, dated March 26, 1981, admonished Reuber for mishandling of scientific data and unrestrained interpretations of those data, ... [and] operat[ing] under the guise of the endorsement of both NCI and [FCRC]. Docket No. 12, Reuber v. United States, No. 82-2376 (filed Sept. 17, 1981). The letter stated that Reuber's obstreperous actions created a public distrust and lack of confidence in ... [NCI] authorities who administer the carcinogenesis testing program, and gave the impression that the NCI may be administering programs of questionable competency. Id. Hanna ordered that Reuber thereafter adhere to the rigid policy of internal scientific review and clearance through [Hanna's] office and through [NCI] administrative offices for all publications that [Reuber] is associated with. Id. 15 Hanna sent copies of this letter to defendants DeVita, Adamson, Hartwell and Payne, all of whom are NCI officials, as well as to defendants Nance and I.J. Fidler at Bionetics. Several of the recipients showed the letter to other people at NCI and Bionetics. See Brief for Appellee, No. 83-1536, at 12. Shortly thereafter, an unknown person or persons posted the letter on Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) bulletin boards in the District of Columbia. See Joint Appendix, No. 83-1536, at 115 [hereinafter cited as J.A.]. Reuber alleges that the letter was freely circulated by pesticide industry lobbyists around Washington [D.C.] See Brief for Appellant, No. 83-1536, at 13. Eventually, news of the reprimand with substantial excerpts from the letter was published in Food Chemical News, a District of Columbia trade publication. 16 Reuber alleges that the publicity about the reprimand greatly upset him and caused a high blood pressure condition which endangered his physical health. See Brief for Appellant, No. 83-1536, at 13. On April 24, upon the advice of his doctor, Reuber resigned from his job at FCRC. He then filed suit in federal courts in both the District of Columbia and Maryland as well as in the Maryland state court. 8