§ 32-44-02 — Civil liability for defamation of agricultural producers

A person who willfully or purposefully disseminates a false and defamatory statement,
knowing the statement to be false, regarding an agricultural producer or an agricultural product
under circumstances in which the statement may be reasonably expected to be believed and
the agricultural producer is damaged as a result, is liable to the agricultural producer for
damages and other relief allowed by law in a court of competent jurisdiction, including injunctive
relief and compensatory and exemplary damages. If it is found by a court or jury that a person
has maliciously disseminated a false and defamatory statement regarding an agricultural
product or agricultural producer, the agricultural producer may recover up to three times the
actual damages proven and the court must order that the agricultural producer recover costs,
disbursements, and actual reasonable attorney's fees incurred in the action.