Quote Originally Posted by Rhyfhylwyr View Post
Yeah, the whole thing sets a bit of a scary precedent.

Although for what it's worth, the scientists aren't being jailed for failing to predict the earthquake, supposedly it is because they underplayed what they believed to be the risk to the public. They aren't on trial for their science, it is because they are alleged to have been irresponsible in their duty to the public.
Hmm that's at least plausible negligence but it seems to me like it's not really their job to accurately report the risks every day, they have to assume that when they say publicly that there's a significant risk people will leave town and if that happens often enough without an earthquake people will stop paying attention.