AB 998: Civil law: libel: damages.

Under existing law, in any action for damages for the publication of a libel in a newspaper or of a slander by a radio broadcast, the plaintiff is required to recover no more than special damages unless a correction is demanded and the correction is not published or broadcast. If a correction is demanded and the correction is not published or broadcast in a specified manner in the newspaper or on the broadcasting station, existing law authorizes the plaintiff to recover general, special, and exemplary damages provided certain requirements are met.

The bill would revise these provisions relating to libel to provide that the publication of a libel be in a daily or weekly news publication, as defined. This bill would also make legislative findings regarding libel.