West Virginia § 57-2-4 Justification and mitigation of damages in action for defamation

West Virginia Statutes

§ 57-2-4 — Justification and mitigation of damages in action for defamation

West Virginia § 57-2-4

Ch. 57EVIDENCE AND WITNESSES

Art. 2WRITINGS AND STATEMENTS OF PRIVATE PERSONS

This text of West Virginia § 57-2-4 (Justification and mitigation of damages in action for defamation) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering West Virginia primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook

W. Va. Code § 57-2-4 (2026).

Text

In any action for defamation, the defendant may justify by alleging and proving that the words spoken or written were true, and after notice in writing of his intention to do so (given to the plaintiff at the time of, or for, pleading to such action) may give in evidence in mitigation of damages that he made or offered an apology to the plaintiff for such defamation before the commencement of the action, or as soon afterwards as he had an opportunity of doing so, in case action shall have been commenced before there was an opportunity of making or offering such apology.

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In any action for defamation, the defendant may justify by alleging and proving that the words spoken or written were true, and after notice in writing of his intention to do so (given to the plaintiff at the time of, or for, pleading to such action) may give in evidence in mitigation of damages that he made or offered an apology to the plaintiff for such defamation before the commencement of the action, or as soon afterwards as he had an opportunity of doing so, in case action shall have been commenced before there was an opportunity of making or offering such apology.