Olympia legislation news 2013-14 session:

Here are 3 good reasons why our state should reject a Uniform Corrections and Clarifications Defamation Act (passed unanimously in the Senate and being considered now by the House). It should be rejected for these reasons:

*The premise that this law will eliminate or limit litigation is illusory: the Act does not present a mechanism for determining the sufficiency of the correction published, a pivotal issue in determining what levels of damages may be sought by the defamed person subsequent to a timely publication. The courts will necessarily be embroiled in such determinations.

*The Act does not recognize that defamation damages are often immediate, severe and non-economic as well as economic. An attorney is often engaged immediately at considerable expense. Even if the timely correction is deemed sufficient, the defamed person often will have suffered months of non-compensable injury (emotional distress, lowered reputation, family and friendship disruption, loss of standing in the community, failure of correction to reach significant members of the community, etc) and legal, perhaps even medical and/or mental health treatment, expense.

*The Uniform Laws Commission made the Act available in 1993. The fact that only one State, North Dakota, has enacted it in the interim, speaks volumes. Despite it’s professed intention to aid individuals and institutions, the Act is tilted far more to the benefit of the very organizations that cause the harm in the first place by careless, circulation or ratings driven, and even malicious publications. The good that prompt, adequate correction can do should not be purchased by the loss of remedies for the real harms defamed persons suffer before the correction is published and while it works its way into the public mind.

Thank you, JJW, for your informed and experienced guidance in helping me articulate what is wrong with this flawed bill. :)

Should have said 150 people representing about 50 small-town weekly and daily newspapers around the state.

Just back from Wenatchee and the Washington Newspaper Publishers Association’s annual convention. Nearly 150 small-town weekly and daily newspapers were represented. Great group of folks who really care about and are deeply engaged with their communities, including increasingly online through comments, Facebook, Twitter, mobile apps, etc. Watch for my blog about this later today.