{"data":{"id":"us-ga/o.c.g.a.-51-5-5","jurisdiction":"us-ga","citation":"O.C.G.A. § 51-5-5","heading":"Inference of malice; rebuttal thereof; effect of rebuttal.","body":"In all actions for printed or spoken defamation, malice is inferred from the character of the charge. However, the existence of malice may be rebutted by proof. In all cases, such proof shall be considered in mitigation of damages. In cases of privileged communications, such proof shall bar a 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":"b32c82cbbfd25b3ad8f2c5fb3b859e808efce9fcb89ccaf8fcfcb682405be82e","source_id":"us-ga","stale":false,"prev":"us-ga/o.c.g.a.-51-5-4","next":"us-ga/o.c.g.a.-51-5-6"},"notice":"GroundRules: Original legal text. Not legal advice."}