§ 304 Truth as defense in libel or slander - Mitigation.

If you are sued for libel or slander in Oklahoma, you can defend yourself by showing that what you said or wrote was actually true. Truth is a full defense. If you can prove it, you should not have to pay damages for defamation.

You also have another option. Even if you cannot fully prove the statement was true, you can point to other facts and circumstances that make the situation less serious. This is called mitigation, and it can help lower the amount of money you might owe, even if it does not get you off the hook completely.

The law gives you the choice to use one defense or both. You can try to prove the statement was true, or you can offer mitigating facts to reduce damages, or you can do both at the same time. This gives people accused of defamation more than one way to protect themselves in court.