Rhode Island § 9-6-9 § 9-6-9. Truth as defense to libel or slander.

Rhode Island Statutes

§ 9-6-9 — § 9-6-9. Truth as defense to libel or slander.

Rhode Island § 9-6-9

Title 9COURTS and CIVIL PROCEDURE–PROCEDURE GENERALLY

Ch. 9-6Pleadings

This text of Rhode Island § 9-6-9 (§ 9-6-9. Truth as defense to libel or slander.) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Rhode Island primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook

R.I. Gen. Laws § 9-6-9 (2026).

Text

§ 9-6-9. Truth as defense to libel or slander.
In every action or proceeding, civil or criminal, for libel or slander, the defendant
            may, with his or her plea of not guilty or his answer, file a written notice that
            he or she will prove the truth of the publication charged as libelous, or of the words
            charged as slanderous, and in such case may, upon the trial, give the truth in evidence,
            without any special plea of justification or affirmative defense in his or her answer;
            and the truth, unless published or uttered from malicious motives, shall be sufficient
            defense to the person charged.
         

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§ 9-6-9. Truth as defense to libel or slander.

In every action or proceeding, civil or criminal, for libel or slander, the defendant may, with his or her plea of not guilty or his answer, file a written notice that he or she will prove the truth of the publication charged as libelous, or of the words charged as slanderous, and in such case may, upon the trial, give the truth in evidence, without any special plea of justification or affirmative defense in his or her answer; and the truth, unless published or uttered from malicious motives, shall be sufficient defense to the person charged.