{"data":{"id":"us-ok/okla.-stat.-tit.-12-12-1446a","jurisdiction":"us-ok","citation":"Okla. Stat. tit. 12, § 12-1446a","heading":"Good faith in publishing libel - Retraction - Actual","body":"damages only - Jury question - Exceptions.\n\nIn an action for damages for the publication of a libel in a\n\nnewspaper or periodical, if the evidence shows that the article was\n\npublished in good faith and that its falsity was due to an honest\n\nmistake of the facts, and the question of \"honest mistake\" shall be\n\na question of fact to be determined by a jury, unless a jury be\n\nwaived by the parties, the plaintiff shall be entitled to recover\n\nactual damages only unless a retraction be requested and refused as\n\nhereinafter provided. The person claiming to have been libeled\n\nshall notify the publisher, either orally or in writing, stating or\n\nsetting forth the particular matter claimed to be libelous and\n\nrequesting that the same be retracted. If a retraction, headed\n\n\"RETRACTION\" in eighteen-point type or larger, be published on the\n\nsame page and in the same type as were the statements complained of,\n\nin two regular issues of said newspaper or periodical, published\n\nwithin a reasonable time, but not to exceed two (2) weeks after such\n\nnotice in a weekly newspaper, or not to exceed one (1) week in a\n\ndaily newspaper, the publication of said retraction shall be full\n\nand complete satisfaction as to all other than actual damages, and\n\nthe plaintiff shall not be entitled to recover other than actual\n\ndamages on account of such erroneous published matter. If such a\n\nretraction be not so published, plaintiff may recover such damages\n\nas are provided by the statutes of this state, if his cause of\n\naction be maintained. This section shall not apply to any libel\n\nimputing unchastity to a woman; nor in any case in which the\n\nevidence shows the publication was made maliciously or with a\n\npremeditated intention and purpose to injure, defame or destroy the\n\nreputation of another or to injuriously alter a person's reputation;\n\nnor to anonymous communications or publications, and provided\n\nfurther that this section shall not apply to any article pertaining\n\nto any candidate for any public office when said article is\n\npublished within three (3) weeks of the date of the primary, runoff\n\nprimary, special or general election, as the case may be.","path":["OK Code","Title 12"],"source_url":"https://www.oklegislature.gov/OK_Statutes/CompleteTitles/os12.pdf","current_through":"2026-08-14","vintage":"open-us-law v2026.08, retrieved 2026-09-14","retrieved_at":"2026-09-14T18:32:36Z","sha256":"bb5e85b425f4f1708e78225ed3898d8b0bdffec0c0de3cb6704b704907685fbb","source_id":"us-ok","stale":false,"prev":"us-ok/okla.-stat.-tit.-12-12-1444.1","next":"us-ok/okla.-stat.-tit.-12-12-1446b"},"notice":"GroundRules: Original legal text. Not legal advice."}