No member of a board, no expert retained by the department, and no member of a profession who provides consultation to or testimony for the department shall be liable in damages to any person for slander, libel, defamation of character, breach of any privileged communication, or otherwise for any action taken or recommendation made within the scope of the functions of such board or expert or the consultation or testimony given by such person, if such board member, expert, or person acts without malice and in the reasonable belief that such action, recommendation, consultation, or testimony is warranted by the facts known to him or her after a reasonable effort is made to obtain the facts on which such action is taken, recommendation is made, or consultation or testimony is provided.

Terms Used In Nebraska Statutes 38-173

  • Action: shall include any proceeding in any court of this state. See Nebraska Statutes 49-801
  • Damages: Money paid by defendants to successful plaintiffs in civil cases to compensate the plaintiffs for their injuries.
  • Department: means the Division of Public Health of the Department of Health and Human Services. See Nebraska Statutes 38-114
  • Person: shall include bodies politic and corporate, societies, communities, the public generally, individuals, partnerships, limited liability companies, joint-stock companies, and associations. See Nebraska Statutes 49-801
  • Profession: means any profession or occupation named in subsection (1) or (2) of section 38-121. See Nebraska Statutes 38-119
  • Testimony: Evidence presented orally by witnesses during trials or before grand juries.