Okla. Stat. » Title 12 — CIVIL PROCEDURE
Oklahoma Statutes

Okla. Stat. tit. 12, § 1443.1 (2026)

Privileged communication defined - Exemption from

✓ current as of July 2026
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libel. A. A privileged publication or communication is one made: First. In any legislative or judicial proceeding or any other proceeding authorized by law; Second. In the proper discharge of an official duty; Third. By a fair and true report of any legislative or judicial or other proceeding authorized by law, or anything said in the course thereof, and any and all expressions of opinion in regard thereto, and criticisms thereon, and any and all criticisms upon the official acts of any and all public officers, except where the matter stated of and concerning the official act done, or of the officer, falsely imputes crime to the officer so criticized. B. No publication which under this section would be privileged shall be punishable as libel. Added by Laws 1981, c. 21, § 1, operative April 7, 1981.

Notes of Decisions
Cited in 50 cases (5 in the last 5 years), 1985–2025 · leading case: Price v. Walters, 918 P.2d 1370 (Okla. 1996).
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Price v. Walters, 918 P.2d 1370 (Okla. 1996). · cites it 22× “The trial judge sustained defendants' motion for summary judgment for the reason the press release was privileged under the provisions of 12 O.S.1991, § 1443.1, infra. Plaintiff Price timely perfected this appeal.”
Kirschstein v. Haynes, 788 P.2d 941 (Okla. 1990). · cites it 7× “To be terse and to the point, I do not believe the action or application is judicial, quasi-judicial, or any other proceeding authorized by law, as that term is used in 12 O.S. § 1443.1. Delayed application for registration of a birth is purely administrative and ministerial in…”
Gaylord Ent. Co. v. Thompson, 1998 OK 30 (Okla. 1998). · cites it 6× “III THE PARTIES' ARGUMENTS ¶ 9 The petitioners (newspapers) argue that the news articles and editorials [17] in contest are privileged under the statutory (12 O.S.1991 § 1443.1) [18] and common-law fair report privilege.”
Racher v. Westlake Nursing Home Ltd. P'ship, 871 F.3d 1152 (10th Cir. 2017). · cites it 2× “First, the Oklahoma Supreme Court referred to a statutory privilege exemption, found in Okla. Stat. tit. 12, § 1443.1 , as an affirmative defense that a defendant must assert and prove.”
Wright v. Grove Sun Newspaper Co., Inc., 873 P.2d 983 (Okla. 1994). · cites it 5× “It is the dissent’s position that the fair report privilege is but coextensive with the statutory privilege codified in 12 O.S.1991 § 1443.1. According to the dissent, because the statute relates to the same subject matter as the common-law privilege — privileged communication —…”
Mitchell v. Griffin Television, L.L.C., 2002 OK CIV APP 115 (Okla. Civ. App. 2002). · cites it 3× “12 O.S.1991 § 1443.1(A). Negligence is the failure to exercise ordinary care, which is “that degree of care which ordinarily prudent persons engaged in the same kind of business usually exercise under similar circumstances.”
Krimbill v. Talarico, 417 P.3d 1240 (Okla. Civ. App. 2017). · cites it 2× “As set forth in 12 O.S.2011 § 1443.1, on which Defendants rely: A.”
Crittendon v. Combined Commc'ns Corp., 714 P.2d 1026 (Okla. 1985). · cites it 5× “Plaintiffs will be referred to collectively as Crittendon or appellee. The jury returned a verdict in favor of Crittendon for $555,000 actual damages and $25,000 punitive damages and a judgment was entered thereon.”
Niemeyer v. United States Fid. & Guar. Co., 789 P.2d 1318 (Okla. 1990). · cites it 3× “USF & G argued in its answer brief on appeal and on certiorari that it could properly share its claim file with American General because the file was a protected, privileged communication pursuant to 12 O.S.1981 § 1443.1. 16 Because of the posture of the case, this defensive…”
Brock v. Thompson, 1997 OK 127 (Okla. 1997). · cites it 2× “According to CALA, legislative activity, which includes the initiative process, is statutorily protected from a libel action by the explicit terms of 12 O.S.1991 § 1443.1. 17 Lastly, CALA *286 submits that venue in Creek County was mislaid.”
White v. Basnett, 700 P.2d 666 (Okla. Civ. App. 1985). · cites it 4× “ROBINSON, Presiding Judge: The main issue to be addressed on appeal is whether the filing of a citizen’s complaint against a police officer is absolutely privileged under 12 O.S.1981 § 1443.1. This exact issue is one of first impression in Oklahoma.”
Wilson v. City of Tulsa, 2004 OK CIV APP 44 (Okla. Civ. App. 2004). · cites it 2× “See 12 O.S.2001 § 1443.1(A)(Third). Even if Chief had another, privately-held and improper reason for concluding that Wilson was lying, there is no evidence that the reasons stated in the press release were not also true.”
Show all 50 citing cases →
— Okla. Stat. tit. 12, § 1443.1(A) — 6 cases
Mitchell v. Griffin Television, L.L.C., 2002 OK CIV APP 115 (Okla. Civ. App. 2002). “12 O.S.1991 § 1443.1(A). Negligence is the failure to exercise ordinary care, which is “that degree of care which ordinarily prudent persons engaged in the same kind of business usually exercise under similar circumstances.”
Wilson v. City of Tulsa, 2004 OK CIV APP 44 (Okla. Civ. App. 2004). “See 12 O.S.2001 § 1443.1(A)(Third). Even if Chief had another, privately-held and improper reason for concluding that Wilson was lying, there is no evidence that the reasons stated in the press release were not also true.”
Sturgeon v. Retherford Publications, Inc., 1999 OK CIV APP 78 (Okla. Civ. App. 1999).
Price v. Walters, 918 P.2d 1370 (Okla. 1996). “The trial judge sustained defendants' motion for summary judgment for the reason the press release was privileged under the provisions of 12 O.S.1991, § 1443.1, infra. Plaintiff Price timely perfected this appeal.”
Borison v. Bank Leumi Trust Co. of New York, 972 P.2d 1188 (Okla. Civ. App. 1998).
— Okla. Stat. tit. 12, § 1443.1(A)(1) — 1 case
Kirschstein v. Haynes, 788 P.2d 941 (Okla. 1990). “To be terse and to the point, I do not believe the action or application is judicial, quasi-judicial, or any other proceeding authorized by law, as that term is used in 12 O.S. § 1443.1. Delayed application for registration of a birth is purely administrative and ministerial in…”
— Okla. Stat. tit. 12, § 1443.1(B) — 1 case
Borison v. Bank Leumi Trust Co. of New York, 972 P.2d 1188 (Okla. Civ. App. 1998).
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