If you haven’t heard, economist John Lott (More Guns, Less Crime) is suing economist Steve Levitt (Freakonomics) for “defamation”. The Chronicle of Higher Education describes the case here. (Hat tip: Alex at Marginal Revolution.) Basically, Lott charges that Levitt maliciously lied about Lott’s work in Freakonomics and in a private email.

I consider John Lott a friend (we overlapped at UCLA). His work has been unfairly attacked by several gun-control advocates. He’s a scrupulous scholar whom I normally give the benefit of the doubt in a controversy. But in this case I fear he’s suffered a lapse in strategic judgment. Lawsuits threaten to poison the well of academic criticism. Arguing back, not suing, is the way to respond to criticism, no matter how unfair.