280          Laws of Maryland         [Ch. 52

the agents or employees of any such owner, licensee or
operator shall not be liable for any damages for any de-
famatory or libelous statement published or uttered over
the facilities of such station or network of stations by any
candidate for public office, AS TO HIS OPPONENT OR
OPPONENTS FOR THE PARTICULAR OFFICE HE
SEEKS, which publication or utterance cannot be cen-
sored by such owner, licensee or operator under any regu-
lation of the Federal Communications Commission or any
statute of the United States.

(B) AS TO A POSSIBLY DEFAMATORY OR LIBEL-
OUS STATEMENT MADE BY ANY SUCH CANDIDATE
ABOUT ANY PERSON OR PERSONS OTHER THAN
AN OPPONENT OR OPPONENTS FOR THE PARTICU-
LAR OFFICE HE SEEKS, ANY SUCH OTHER PER-
SON SHALL BE LIMITED AND RESTRICTED IN ANY
SUIT OR SUITS FOR DEFAMATION OR LIBEL
BROUGHT AGAINST SUCH OWNER, LICENSEE OR
OPERATOR OR AGAINST SUCH AGENTS OR EM-
PLOYEES TO SUCH DAMAGES AS MAY BE COM-
PENSATORY FOR ACTUAL INJURY SUFFERED;
EXCEPT THAT UPON PROOF OF ACTUAL MALICE
ON THE PART OF ANY SUCH OWNER, LICENSEE
OR OPERATOR OR ON THE PART OF ANY SUCH
AGENTS OR EMPLOYEES IN ALLOWING OR PER-
MITTING SUCH STATEMENTS TO BE MADE, PUNI-
TIVE DAMAGES THEREFOR MAY BE ALLOWED TO
THE PERSON AGGRIEVED AGAINST THE SAID
OWNER OR LICENSEE, OPERATOR, AGENT OR EM-
PLOYEE.

SEC. 2. And be it further enacted, That this Act shall
take effect June 1, 1952.

Approved March 28, 1952.

CHAPTER 52
(House Bill 29)

AN ACT to repeal and re-enact, with amendments, Section
77 of Article 100 of the Annotated Code of Maryland

Explanation: Italics indicate new matter added to existing law.

[Brackets] indicate matter stricken from existing law.
CAPITALS indicate amendments to bill.
Strike out indicates matter stricken out of bill.