The former director of the foreign language centre at Exeter University is suing the university for libel following the posting of an email on the Internet concerning his departure from the university.
John Hankinson, who resigned from the university in February 1997, is claiming damages for libel in the email, which was posted six days after he left. According to the university, the email was posted by an individual staff member contrary to the university's instruction that no public comment should be made on the matter.