Update: Existence of emails discussing cyanide reported by The Advocate in LSU lawsuit

Dr. Ivor van Heerden

On Thursday May 20, U.S. District Judge James J. Brady issued a temporary restraining order that prohibits Louisiana State University’s College of Engineering from allowing Ivor van Heerden’s one-year contract to expire until a hearing on the researcher’s complaints is concluded.

Dr. van Heerden alleges that he was fired for speaking critically of the US Army Corps of Engineers and that LSU was worried about federal funding being put in jeopardy.

LSU receives large federal grants from the Corps.

Also, as reported by The Advocate, Dr. van Heerden testified that a pair of administrators once engaged in e-mail exchanges in which they suggested he was crazy and possibly should receive a cyanide pill.