SECTIONS 20500-20502 - California Statutes

ELECTIONS CODE

SECTION 20500-20502

20500. The provisions of Part 2 (commencing with Section 43) of
Division 1 of the Civil Code, relating to libel and slander, are
fully applicable to any campaign advertising or communication.

20501. (a) A candidate or state measure proponent is liable for any
slander or libel committed by a committee that is controlled by that
candidate or state measure proponent as defined by Section 82016 of
the Government Code if the candidate or state measure proponent
willfully and knowingly directs or permits the libel or slander.
(b) A person who is a sponsor of a sponsored committee, as defined
by Section 82048.7 of the Government Code, is liable for any slander
or libel committed by the sponsored committee if the sponsor
willfully and knowingly directs or permits the libel or slander.

20502. (a) In any action for libel or slander brought by a
candidate, the willingness or unwillingness of the defendant to
retract or correct a communication made in the course of a campaign,
and his or her action in doing so, shall be admissible in evidence in
the exemplary damages phase of a bifurcated trial.
(b) The remedy provided by this section is in addition to any
other remedy provided by law.