1. A person may maintain an action for defamation only if the person has made a timely and adequate request for correction or clarification from the defendant or the defendant has made a correction or clarification. 2. A request for correction or clarification is timely if made within the period of limitation for commencement of an action for defamation. However, a person who, within ninety days after knowledge of the publication, fails to make a good -faith attempt to request a correction or clarification may recover only provable economic loss. 3. A request for correction or clarification is adequate if the request: a. Is made in writing and reasonably identifies the person making the request; b. Specifies with particularity the statement alleged to be false and defamatory and, to the extent known, the time and place of publication; c. Alleges the defamatory meaning of the statement; d. Specifies the circumstances giving rise to any defamatory meaning of the statement which arises from other than the express language of the publication; and e. States that the alleged defamatory meaning of the statement is false. 4. In the absence of a previous adequate request, service of a summons and complaint stating a claim for relief for defamation and containing the information required in subsection 3 constitutes an adequate request for correction or clarification. 5. The period of limitation for commencement of a defamation action is tolled during the period allowed in section 32-43-06 for responding to a request for correction or clarification.
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