Sec. 5. Rights of persons defamed.

241 words·~1 min read·/il/chapter-25/act-85/5

A research copy — for the controlling text, always check the official state or federal source. Not legal advice.

Any witness or any other person whose name is mentioned or who is specifically identified at a public hearing and who reasonably believes that such mention or identification tends to defame him or otherwise adversely affect his reputation shall be afforded the following privileges to be exercised within a reasonable time:

(a)To be furnished at a reasonable charge with a transcript of the record, if any has been kept, as it pertains to him taken at a public hearing,

(b)to file with the Commission a written sworn statement (including exhibits thereto) relevant to the matter referred to in such mention or identification, and

(c)if no record of the proceedings of a hearing has been kept, to file affidavits alleging the mention or identification and the party making such mention or identification wherein such witness or person believes he was defamed. Such statement shall be made a part of the record of the public hearing at which the witness believes himself to have been defamed.

In addition, such person may file with the chairman and at least one other member of the Commission a verified written request to appear personally before the Commission. If, on the basis of the aforementioned written sworn statement and the verified written request to be heard, the Commission believes that such person has a reasonable cause to be heard, it shall afford him the privilege of being heard.