Farrar v. Tribune Publishing Co‪.‬

[1] The question for decision is whether we should overrule Ott v. Press Pub. Co., REF40 Wash. 308,/REF REF82 P. 403/REF (1905). It was there held that, in an action for damages on account of a newspaper publication which was libelous per se, the defendant may, under the express provisions of RCW REF4.36.130,/REF plead and prove all of the mitigating circumstances, and that the court cannot hold, in the face of this statute, that such pleading should be stricken or the evidence rejected on the theory that only punitive damages can be mitigated. The court adheres to that decision.