A $58 million lawsuit filed against an evolutionary biologist over comments he made decades ago in a book review has been thrown out.

The lawsuit against Richard Dawkins was filed by Karl Dahlstrom, author of an anti-evolution book called The Organized Universe. In his lawsuit, Dahlstrom contends that Dawkins was referring to him in a comment made in a 1989 New York Times book review that said, "It is absolutely safe to say that if you meet somebody who claims not to believe in evolution, that person is ignorant, stupid or insane (or wicked, but I’d rather not consider that)." 

According to news reports, Dahlstrom was convinced the "somebody" referred to him and that, as such, Dawkins caused millions of persons to be prejudiced and biased against him, injured his reputation and subjected him to hatred, contempt, ridicule and financial injury. All this despite the fact that Dawkins made his statement in 1989, about 24 years before Dahlstrom even published his book. 

Late last year, a magistrate recommended the entire case be thrown out, citing Dahlstrom's "far-fetched rhetoric" and "unsubstantiated conclusions".  More recently, a U.S. District Judge adopted that recommendation, resolving the case for good.

—Source: patheos.com