{"data":{"id":"us-ga/o.c.g.a.-51-5-1","jurisdiction":"us-ga","citation":"O.C.G.A. § 51-5-1","heading":"Libel defined; publication prerequisite to recovery.","body":"(a) A libel is a false and malicious defamation of another, expressed in print, writing, pictures, or signs, tending to injure the reputation of the person and exposing him to public hatred, contempt, or ridicule.\n(b) The publication of the libelous matter is essential to recovery.","path":["TITLE 51 Torts","CHAPTER 5 Libel and Slander"],"source_url":"https://archive.org/download/gov.ga.ocga.2018/release86.2022.11/gov.ga.ocga.title.51.odt","current_through":"Release 86 (2022-11)","vintage":"Public.Resource.Org bulk O.C.G.A., Release 86 (2022-11), retrieved 2026-09-17","retrieved_at":"2026-09-17T19:34:58Z","sha256":"aef37781fed9fdeb875013160645dff63e6ec14c752e228cbd39959f47482685","source_id":"us-ga","stale":false,"prev":"us-ga/o.c.g.a.-51-4-6","next":"us-ga/o.c.g.a.-51-5-2"},"notice":"GroundRules: Original legal text. Not legal advice."}