U.S. District Judge Myong J. Joun ruled in favor of Harvard University this week in a civil case brought by Francesca Gino, a former tenured professor at Harvard Business School who studied ethics. Gino accused the university of breach of contract and sex-based discrimination after Harvard revoked her tenure in 2025.
Joun granted summary judgment to Harvard, writing that "no reasonable jury could conclude on the identified evidence that Harvard revoked tenure dishonestly or without a reasonable basis, prematurely removed Gino from her appointment, or materially violated a contractual procedure."
The case stemmed from research misconduct allegations raised by the blog Data Colada against Gino's work. Harvard placed her on leave in 2023. Gino denied engaging in research misconduct and filed a $25 million lawsuit against Data Colada, Harvard, and her former dean.
Joun wrote that the record did not demonstrate "any other evidence of a pattern or practice of discriminatory conduct or unfavorable treatment that can be applied to reasonably infer gender bias against Plaintiff." He had previously dismissed Gino's defamation claims, finding she is a public figure who did not prove malice by her accusers. This week's decision also dismissed all remaining claims against the former dean. Harvard's separate defamation counterclaim remains unaffected by the ruling.