Precisely. This is why I'm interested to see how institutions will react to this threat vector. If defamation suits become a standard go-to for disgraced resear

Precisely. This is why I'm interested to see how institutions will react to this threat vector. If defamation suits become a standard go-to for disgraced researchers, the knowledge that institutions will defend them without even batting an eye (via a pot of insurance-backed money) will likely de-fang that approach. "Sure, you could sue for defamation, but you know you're wrong; do you really want to burn years just to enrich a couple lawyers instead of accepting the inevitable here?" The only way pulling the other researchers into this suit seems rational to me at all is if she had reason to believe they might roll over and settle instead of digging into their affirmative defense and further shredding her reputation.