The Schatz v. Waksman Lawsuit - 1950
A lawsuit concerning the discovery, patenting, and royalties generated from Streptomycin.
Background
Albert Schatz, as a graduate student, worked with Selman Waksman and helped the professor in his antibiotics research, but the amount of academic and financial credit Schatz should receive is in question. Waksman, between 1939-1950, patented 8 antibiotic substances, and had the royalties assigned to the Rutgers Research and Educational Foundation to help develop the Rutgers Institute for Microbiology (today the Waksman Institute). Shatz became concerned when Waksman began receiving monies from the Foundation ($380,000 alleged by Schatz) and filed a civil suit.
These documents are meant to be viewed in sequence. It is suggested that you print one copy of each and duplicate them into document packets for your students.
- The complaint/lawsuit (May 23, 1949)
- Letter to Dr. Waksman from S. Epstein (Dec. 6, 1949)
- Affidavit by Dr. Waksman pages 1 2 3 4
- Defense Strategy/Questionnaire for Schatz
- Rutgers News Service press release March 12, 1950
- Letters of support for Dr. Waksman
- Letter to Dr. R. L. Stanley / Univ. of California (May 24, 1950)
- Letter to Dr. Donald Reynolds (June 1, 1950)
- Letter to Dudley Watson, attorney (June 9, 1950)
- Letter to Miss Dorcas Fasan (June 7, 1950)
- Statement by Dr. Robert Clothier, President Rutgers University (Dec. 29, 1950)
A Postscript to the Schatz Case
After the case had been settled in December 1950, the legal mess continued as Albert Schatz sued his lawyers. Waksman, in Fall/Winter 1953 was working on his autobiography, MY LIFE WITH MICROBES. Would Schatz sue Waksman for libel if the professor attacked him in the book? Click the link to read documents from the Waksman Collection at Rutgers University Archives and Special Collection.
These documents are meant to be viewed in sequence. It is suggested that you print one copy of each and duplicate them into document packets for your students.
Read the Postscript documents.
- Letter from London Simpson London, attorneys page 1 2 3
- A bit of Schatziana page 1 2
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Reproduction and use for educational purposes only with proper citation.