TORT ACTIONS FOR LIBEL & SLANDER

HB 333 allows defendants who win libel, slander, or privacy lawsuits to recover triple damages and legal fees from the plaintiff if the lawsuit was based on a true statement the defendant made about their own experience with sexual assault, sexual harassment, or unlawful discrimination - and the statement was made without malice. It applies only to cases where the plaintiff sued over the defendant’s personal experience with these specific issues. The law creates a financial penalty for plaintiffs who bring such claims without factual basis. This directly affects defendants in these limited types of lawsuits who successfully defend against claims about their own sensitive experiences.