740 ILCS 145/ Slander and Libel Act.

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740 ILCS 145/0.01

(740 ILCS 145/0.01) (from Ch. 126, par. 0.01)

Sec. 0.01.

Short title.

This Act may be cited as the

Slander and Libel Act.

(Source: P.A. 86-1324.)

740 ILCS 145/1

(740 ILCS 145/1) (from Ch. 126, par. 1)

Sec. 1.

That if any person shall falsely use, utter or
publish words, which in their common acceptance, shall amount to charge any
person with having been guilty of fornication or adultery, such words so
spoken shall be deemed actionable, and he shall be deemed guilty of
slander.

(Source: R.S. 1874, p. 992.)

740 ILCS 145/2

(740 ILCS 145/2) (from Ch. 126, par. 2)

Sec. 2.

It shall be deemed slander, and shall be actionable, to charge any
person with swearing falsely, or with having sworn falsely, or for using
uttering or publishing words of, to or concerning any person, which, in
their common acceptation, amount to such charge, whether the words be
spoken in conversation of, and concerning a judicial proceeding or not.

(Source: R.S. 1874, p. 992.)

740 ILCS 145/3

(740 ILCS 145/3) (from Ch. 126, par. 3)

Sec. 3.

In actions for slander or libel, an unproved allegation of the
truth of the matter charged shall not be deemed proof of malice, unless the
jury, on the whole case, find that such defense was made with malicious
intent. And it shall be competent for the defendant to establish the truth
of the matter charged by a preponderance of testimony.

(Source: R.S. 1874, p. 992.)