Under slander per se, how many specific categories allow a plaintiff to forego proving special damages?

Under slander per se, there are four specific categories that allow a plaintiff to forego proving special damages. These categories are considered inherently harmful and are classified as:

1. Accusations of a serious crime.

2. Allegations that a person has a contagious or loathsome disease.

3. Statements that affect a person’s professional competence or business reputation.

4. Claims that impute unchastity or promiscuity to a woman.

Since statements in these categories are deemed damaging enough to warrant damages without the need for the plaintiff to establish specific losses, they fall under slander per se. This legal framework is designed to simplify the plaintiff's case in instances where the reputational harm is clear and obvious, reflecting the serious nature of the allegations involved. Each of these categories recognizes that certain types of statements carry a high potential for harm, thus justifying a presumption of damages.