unintentional defamation Plea whereby the defendant claims that he published the words innocently, that he did not intend to publish them and did not know of the circumstances by virtue of which the words might be understood to refer to the plaintiff, or that the words were not defamatory on the face of them and that he did not know the circumstances by virtue of which they might be understood to be defamatory and that he exercised all reasonable care in relation to publication. He may then make an offer of amends.