Does a defendant have to prove truth in order to avoid liability for defamation?

No, a defendant in the state of Washington does not have to prove truth in order to avoid liability for defamation. Instead, the defendant can prove a number of other defense strategies in order to avoid liability. For example, a defendant can prove an opinion, which is protected under the law and does not constitute as defamation. The defendant can also prove that the statement made is true, in which case it is also protected under the law. Additionally, the defendant can prove that the statement was made without any kind of intention of harm, or that the statement was privileged and made for the purpose of furthering an investigation or producing a fair outcome. Finally, the defendant can prove that the statement was made in an effort to protect the public from harm, or with regards to a matter of public interest. As such, defendants do not have to prove truth in order to avoid liability for defamation in the state of Washington.

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Does a defendant have to prove truth in order to avoid liability for defamation?

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