What is Slander Per Se?
Slander is a defamatory statement expressed in a transitory medium, such as verbal speech. It is considered a civil injury, as opposed to a criminal offence. The tort of slander is often compared with that of libel, which is also characterized as a defamatory statement, but one made in a fixed form, such as writing. Slander Per Se is slander for which special damages (e.g. actual loss in revenue) need not be proved in order to recover general damages (e.g. for emotional distress). Slander Per Se only applies to slanderous publications which imputes to the plaintiff one of the four following categories: 1)a crime involving moral turpitude, 2)a loathsome disease (e.g. a sexually transmitted disease), 3)Unchastity (particularly concerns women) 4)conduct that would adversely affect ones business or profession General damages are presumed legitimate even in abscence of proof of special damages when a plaintiff proves slander in one of these four cateogories.
