4.—(1) Where in an action for libel or slander against several defendants sued jointly the plaintiff, in accordance with Order 22, rule 3(1), accepts money paid into court by any of those defendants in satisfaction of his cause of action against that defendant, then, notwithstanding anything in rule 3(2) of that Order, the action shall be stayed against that defendant only, but—
(a)the sum recoverable under any judgment given in the plaintiff's favour against any other defendant in the action by way of damages shall not exceed the amount (if any) by which the amount of the damages exceeds the amount paid into court by the defendant as against whom the action has been stayed, and
(b)the plaintiff shall not be entitled to his costs of the action against the other defendant after the date of the payment into court unless either the amount of the damages awarded to him is greater than the amount paid into court and accepted by him or the judge is of opinion that there was reasonable ground for him to proceed with the action against the other defendant.
(2) Where in an action for libel a party pleads the defence for which section 2 of the Libel Act 1843(1) provides, Order 22, rule 7, shall not apply in relation to that pleading.