ORS 260.532
False publication relating to candidate or measure

  • civil action
  • damages
  • other remedies
  • limitation on action

(1)

No person shall cause to be written, printed, published, posted, communicated or circulated, including by electronic or telephonic means, any letter, circular, bill, placard, poster, photograph or other publication, or cause any advertisement to be placed in a publication, or singly or with others pay for any advertisement or circulate an advertisement by electronic or telephonic means, with knowledge or with reckless disregard that the letter, circular, bill, placard, poster, photograph, publication or advertisement contains a false statement of material fact relating to any candidate, political committee or measure.

(2)

As used in subsection (1) of this section, “cause” does not include the broadcast of an advertisement by a radio or television station or cable television company unless the advertisement is for:

(a)

The candidacy of the owner, licensee or operator of the station or company; or

(b)

A ballot measure of which a chief petitioner is the owner, licensee or operator of the station or company.

(3)

A candidate who knows of and consents to a publication or advertisement prohibited by this section with knowledge or with reckless disregard that it contains a false statement of material fact, violates this section regardless of whether the candidate has participated directly in the publication or advertisement.

(4)

There is a rebuttable presumption that a candidate knows of and consents to any publication or advertisement prohibited by this section caused by a political committee over which the candidate exercises any direction and control.

(5)

Any candidate or political committee aggrieved by a violation of this section shall have a right of action against the person alleged to have committed the violation. The aggrieved party may file the action in the circuit court for any county in this state in which a defendant resides or can be found or, if the defendant is a nonresident of this state, in the circuit court for any county in which the publication occurred. To prevail in such an action, the plaintiff must show by clear and convincing evidence that the defendant violated subsection (1) of this section.

(6)

A plaintiff who prevails in an action provided by subsection (5) of this section may recover economic and noneconomic damages, as defined in ORS 31.705 (Economic and noneconomic damages separately set forth in verdict), or $2,500, whichever is greater. The court may award such additional equitable relief as it considers necessary or proper. The equitable relief may include, but is not limited to, a requirement that a retraction of the false statement be disseminated in the manner directed by the court. Proof of entitlement to economic and noneconomic damages must be by a preponderance of evidence. The court shall award the prevailing party reasonable attorney fees at trial and on appeal.

(7)

A political committee has standing to bring an action provided by subsection (5) of this section as plaintiff in its own name, if its purpose as evidenced by its preelection activities, solicitations and publications has been injured by the violation and if it has fully complied with the provisions of this chapter. In an action brought by a political committee as provided by subsection (5) of this section, the plaintiff may recover economic and noneconomic damages for all injury to the purpose of the committee as provided in subsection (6) of this section.

(8)

If a judgment is rendered in an action under this section against a defendant who has been nominated to public office or elected to a public office other than state Senator or state Representative, and it is established by clear and convincing evidence that the false statement was deliberately made or caused to be made by the defendant, the finder of fact shall determine whether the false statement reversed the outcome of the election. If the finder of fact finds by clear and convincing evidence that the false statement reversed the outcome of the election, the defendant shall be deprived of the nomination or election and the nomination or office shall be declared vacant.

(9)

An action under this section must be filed not later than the 30th day after the election relating to which a publication or advertisement in violation of this section was made. Proceedings on a complaint filed under this section shall have precedence over all other business on the docket. The courts shall proceed in a manner which will ensure that:

(a)

Final judgment on a complaint which relates to a primary election or nominating election is rendered before the 30th day before the general election; and

(b)

Final judgment on a complaint which relates to an election to an office is rendered before the term of that office begins.

(10)

The remedy provided by this section is the exclusive remedy for a violation of this section. [Formerly 260.380; 1973 c.744 §36; 1975 c.683 §14; 1979 c.190 §374; 1979 c.667 §2; 1981 c.897 §45; 1983 c.756 §1; 1985 c.808 §63a; 1995 c.712 §79; 1997 c.829 §1; 1999 c.941 §1; 1999 c.999 §58; 2021 c.291 §4; 2021 c.478 §10]

Source: Section 260.532 — False publication relating to candidate or measure; civil action; damages; other remedies; limitation on action, https://www.­oregonlegislature.­gov/bills_laws/ors/ors260.­html.

Notes of Decisions

Statements are not false as that word is used in the Corrupt Practices Act if any reasonable inference that can be drawn from the statement is either a correct inference of fact or a matter of opinion. Eustace v. Speckhart, 14 Or App 485, 514 P2d 25 (1973)

Ambiguous statement that allows erroneous inference to be drawn is not violation of Corrupt Practices Act. Committee to Retain Judge Tanzer v. Lee, 270 Or 215, 527 P2d 247 (1974)

If reasonable inference of opinion or correct fact can be drawn, statement is not false even though erroneous inference could also be drawn from it. Sumner v. Bennett, 45 Or App 275, 608 P2d 566 (1980)

Challenges to primary elections brought under this section must be dismissed unless trial and appellate courts have rendered final determination at least 30 days prior to general election. Koch v. Makinson, 52 Or App 155, 628 P2d 397 (1981)

Since this section provides unitary remedy, where no judgment was rendered depriving defendant of nomination, no severable cause of action for damages existed. Koch v. Makinson, 52 Or App 155, 628 P2d 397 (1981)

Under this section, even assuming false statement of material fact did not supply ground to set aside election. Stork v. Columbia River PUD, 58 Or App 51, 646 P2d 1372 (1982), Sup Ct review denied

Where political committee’s purpose is essentially identical to candidate’s purpose, committee is aggrieved party under this section and may bring action for false statement about candidate. Committee of 1000 v. Eivers, 296 Or 195, 674 P2d 1159 (1983)

Statements are not “false” within meaning of this section if any reasonable inference can be drawn from the evidence that statement is factually correct or that statement is merely an expression of opinion; statement that state senator “introduced legislation to add a new statewide property tax” is true in one sense and false in another where senator sponsored resolution that would have been initial step in establishing statewide property tax had certain sequence of events occurred. Committee of 1000 v. Eivers, 296 Or 195, 674 P2d 1159 (1983)

Trial court did not err when it imposed joint and several individual liability on officers and directors of unincorporated association organized pursuant to ORS chapter 260 as a political committee. Leslie v. Bendl, 92 Or App 519, 759 P2d 301 (1988), Sup Ct review denied

False statement is material if statement could or would significantly influence reader’s decision-making process. Bryant v. Recall for Lowell’s Future Committee, 286 Or App 691, 400 P3d 980 (2017)

Attorney General Opinions

Court authority to determine that candidate for legislature shall be deprived of election, (1979) Vol 39, p 567

260.005
Definitions
260.007
Exclusions from definitions of “contribution” and “expenditure.”
260.011
Prohibition on using cryptocurrency to make contribution
260.035
Treasurer and statement of organization for political committees and candidates
260.037
Liability of candidate or treasurer for default or violation of treasurer obligations
260.038
Treasurer of more than one candidate or committee
260.039
Content of statement of organization of candidate or principal campaign committee
260.041
Principal campaign committee
260.042
Content of statement of organization of political committee
260.043
Exemptions for candidate who expects neither contributions nor expenditures to exceed $750 or $3,500
260.044
Statement of independent expenditures
260.046
Discontinuance of statement of organization
260.049
Reports to be filed by certain corporations
260.052
Political committee identification number
260.054
Political committee campaign account
260.055
Accounts of contributions and expenditures
260.056
Written loan agreements
260.057
Electronic campaign finance filing system
260.064
In-kind contribution from candidate, political committee or petition committee
260.076
Statements of contributions received during session of Legislative Assembly
260.078
Reporting contributions and expenditures not previously reported
260.083
Contents of statements
260.085
Listing of occupation of contributor
260.095
Reporting expenditures that are both in-kind contributions and expenditures
260.112
Filing of certificate by candidate or treasurer of political committee or petition committee who expects neither contributions nor expenditures to exceed $3,500
260.118
Treasurer and statement of organization of petition committee
260.156
Rules for reporting expenditures and contributions
260.163
County or city campaign finance provisions
260.200
Secretary of State rules for accounts, forms, material to be retained and material not subject to disclosure
260.205
Inspection of statements
260.215
Periodic examination and investigation of statements
260.218
Subpoena authority
260.225
Court proceedings to compel filing of correct statements
260.232
Civil penalty for failure to file statement or to include required information
260.234
Notice of civil penalty
260.241
Removal from general election ballot for failure to file statement
260.245
Withholding certificate of election or certificate of nomination for failure to file statement
260.255
Preservation of filed statements by filing officers
260.262
Accounts of chief petitioners
260.266
Statement of persons who paid for communication in support of or in opposition to clearly identified candidate
260.275
Definitions for ORS 260.275 to 260.285
260.281
Donor identification lists
260.285
Civil penalty for failure to file donor identification list or to include required information
260.315
Distribution of copies of law
260.345
Complaints or other information regarding violations
260.351
Court proceedings for election law violations, generally
260.355
Deprivation of nomination or office for deliberate and material election violation
260.365
Election or appointment after deprivation of nomination or office for violation
260.368
Investigations of violations of prohibition on payment based on number of signatures obtained on petition
260.402
Contributions in false name
260.407
Use of contributed amounts for certain purposes
260.409
Expenditures for professional services rendered by candidate
260.413
Prohibition on committee providing consideration in connection with nondisclosure agreement relating to workplace harassment
260.422
Acceptance of employment where compensation to be contributed
260.432
Solicitation of public employees
260.532
False publication relating to candidate or measure
260.537
False publication intended to mislead electors
260.550
Use of term “incumbent.”
260.555
Prohibitions relating to circulation, filing or certification of initiative, referendum or recall petition
260.556
Secretary of State prohibited from counting petition signatures obtained by certain persons
260.558
Payment for signing or not signing initiative, referendum or recall petition
260.561
Liability of certain chief petitioners for violations committed by persons obtaining signatures on petition
260.563
Liability of contractor obtaining signatures on petition for violations committed by subcontractor
260.567
Alteration of information on petition signature sheet
260.569
Payment based on signatures obtained on nominating petition or voter registration card
260.575
Use of threats and intimidation for purpose of extorting money
260.635
Bets and wagers on election results
260.645
Illegal acts relating to voting machines or vote tally systems
260.665
Undue influence to affect registration, voting, candidacy, signing petitions
260.675
Prohibited distribution of ballots
260.685
Elections official compliance with directives of Secretary of State
260.695
Prohibitions relating to voting
260.705
Premature release of vote tally
260.715
Prohibited conduct
260.993
Criminal penalties
260.995
Civil penalties
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