{"data":{"id":"us-pa/42-pa.c.s.-8342","jurisdiction":"us-pa","citation":"42 Pa.C.S. § 8342","heading":"Justification a defense.","body":"In all civil actions for libel, the plea of justification shall be accepted as an adequate and complete defense, when it is pleaded, and proved to the satisfaction of the jury, under the direction of the court as in other cases, that the publication is substantially true and is proper for public information or investigation, and has not been maliciously or negligently made.","path":["Title 42 - JUDICIARY AND JUDICIAL PROCEDURE","PART VII CIVIL ACTIONS AND PROCEEDINGS","CHAPTER 83 PARTICULAR RIGHTS AND IMMUNITIES","SUBCHAPTER D DEFAMATION"],"source_url":"https://www.palegis.us/statutes/consolidated/view-statute?txtType=HTM\u0026ttl=42\u0026div=0\u0026chpt=83\u0026sctn=42\u0026subsctn=0","current_through":"2026-08-03 (Statute Update stamp, 42 Pa.C.S.)","vintage":"","retrieved_at":"2026-09-02T16:33:14Z","sha256":"7568fd25fbe08f086b1f2f73c80ec64115637c2a75dd9454fffe45f5bddae931","source_id":"us-pa","stale":false,"prev":"us-pa/42-pa.c.s.-8341","next":"us-pa/42-pa.c.s.-8343"},"notice":"GroundRules: Original legal text. Not legal advice."}