The bastards are suing Quackwatch

Doctor's Data, a laboratory that caters to chelation therapists and other offbeat practitioners, has sued [Quackwatch's Stephen Barrett, M.D.]

On June 18th, Doctor's Data filed suit against me, the National Council Against Health Fraud, Inc., Quackwatch, Inc., and Consumer Health Digest, accusing us of restraint of trade; trademark dilution; business libel; tortious interference with existing and potential business relationships; fraud or intentional misrepresetation; and violating federal and state laws against deceptive trade practices. (On June 29th, Consumer Health Digest was dropped as a defendant.) The complaint asks for more than $10 million in compensatory and punitive damages. The suit objects to seven articles on my Web sites:

• How the Urine Toxic Metals Test Is Used to Defraud Patients
• CARE Clinics, Doctor's Data, Sued for Fraud
• Be Wary of CARE Clinics and the Center for Autistic Spectrum Disorders (CASD)
• Three brief articles in Consumer Health Digest:
  • Slate article blasts the urine toxic metals test
  • Shady clinic and lab under legal assault
  • "Autism specialists" sued
• Laboratories Doing Nonstandard Laboratory Tests

Quackwatch is a great site, one I frequent regularly, and this is frustrating as hell both for Dr. Barrett and for his fellows and followers. As Pharyngula has stated, it's going to be an interesting thing to watch, but also a bit ironic, because it's just going to make the fact that Doctor's Data are a fraud far more widely known.

There's a link to help with the legal funding (badly needed I should think) so if you can spare some money and are inclined to do so, go make a donation: Donate to Quackwatch