An arbitrator shall not be civilly or criminally liable for libel, slander, or defamation of any of the parties to the arbitration for any statement or action taken within the official capacity of the arbitrator during the arbitration.
(Code 1933, § 7-424, enacted by Ga. L. 1978, p. 2270, § 2; Code 1981, §9-9-133; Code 1981, §9-9-83, as redesignated by Ga. L. 1988, p. 903, § 3.)