Plain English Breakdown
The official summary explicitly limits the prohibition to actions brought by one individual against another; it does not clarify if corporations can sue or be sued under these provisions.
HB911: Limits on Defamation Lawsuits About Sexual Assault and Harassment
This bill stops individuals from suing other individuals for defamation if they share information about a sexual assault, harassment, or discrimination incident that the speaker believed actually happened.
What This Bill Does
- Prohibits individuals from filing defamation lawsuits against another individual who communicates details about an alleged sexual assault, sexual harassment, or sex discrimination incident when the communicator believes it occurred.
- Requires courts to award attorney's fees and costs to a defendant if they win such a lawsuit.
- Repeals any existing laws that conflict with these new rules.
Who It Names or Affects
- Individuals who share information about incidents of sexual assault, harassment, or discrimination.
- People accused of defamation in cases involving communications about the listed incidents between individuals.
- Courts handling libel and slander cases under Chapter 5 of Title 51 of the Official Code of Georgia.
Terms To Know
- Defamation
- A legal claim involving false statements that harm a person's reputation, including libel and slander.
- Prevailing defendant
- The person being sued who wins the case or has the lawsuit dismissed.
Limits and Unknowns
- The official source does not specify if this protection applies to communications made with malicious intent.
- The effective date of the law is not listed in the provided material.
- It is unclear from the summary whether these rules apply only between private individuals or also involve businesses and organizations.