Section 5 Special Damages

• Library: Damages 2012

While Nazeriv. Missouri Valley College, 860 S.W.2d 303, 313 (Mo. banc 1993), eliminated the libel per se/libel per quod distinction, it did not eliminate the requirement of pleading special damages set forth in Rule 55.19. Thus, even after Nazeri, if special damages are sought, “the pleading must set forth the factual matters that give reasonable notice of the nature and extent of the claim.” Porter v. Crawford & Co., 611 S.W.2d 265, 271 (Mo. App. W.D. 1980). Pleading and proving special damages in Missouri requires the plaintiff “to allege either the loss of particular customers by name, or a general diminution in...