Thanks 999. I hadn't put McLibel, yet I suppose that is a logical search term...

I am also aware of a doctor who recently won his case but just about bankrupted him in the meantime by trying to publish a paper examining the benefit or otherwise of chiropractic therapy. Ben Goodman's book "Bad Science" also makes interesting reading regarding the use of the legal world to stifle scientific or indeed academic debate at any level where there is a buck to be turned peddling snake oil.

Stifling real debate on climate issues could, sadly, make these other issues irrelevant.