When items of special damage are claimed, they shall be specifically stated. In actions where exemplary or punitive damages are recoverable, the petition shall state separately the amount of such damages sought to be recovered. In actions for such damages based upon an alleged tort, no dollar amount or figure shall be included in the demand, but the prayer shall be for such damages as are fair and reasonable.
Rule 55.19.Special and Punitive Damages.
Part I · Rule 55: Pleadings, Motions and Hearing · Last amended January 1, 1988 · Last verified July 22, 2026
In one sentenceRule 55.19 requires a party to specifically state any item of special damage claimed and to state punitive or exemplary damages separately, while barring a specific dollar figure in a tort petition’s demand for such damages in favor of a request for fair and reasonable damages.
Full Text of Rule 55.19
Amendment History
Adopted Jan. 19, 1973, eff. Sept. 1, 1973. Amended May 22, 1987, eff. Jan. 1, 1988.
Official Comment
This is the same as prior Rule 55.21. Compare: Rule 9(g) of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure.
Plain-English Summary
Special damages — the type of damages that don’t automatically follow from the type of claim and need to be called out — must be specifically stated in the pleading instead of being left to be inferred. That gives the opposing party notice of the particular items of loss being claimed.
Punitive or exemplary damages get their own separate statement in the petition when they’re being sought. But in tort actions specifically, the rule bars including any dollar figure for those damages in the demand. Instead, the prayer must ask for damages that are fair and reasonable, echoing the same approach Rule 55.05 takes toward tort damages generally.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need to itemize special damages in a Missouri petition?
Yes. Rule 55.19 requires items of special damage to be specifically stated.
Can I request a specific punitive damages amount in a tort petition?
No. The rule bars any dollar figure for punitive or exemplary damages in tort actions, requiring instead a prayer for fair and reasonable damages.
What is the difference between special and punitive damages under this rule?
Special damages must be specifically stated as items of loss; punitive or exemplary damages must be stated separately and, in tort cases, without a dollar figure.
Why can’t tort petitions state a dollar figure for punitive damages?
Rule 55.19 requires the prayer to ask for damages that are fair and reasonable instead of a specific number.
Does this dollar-figure restriction apply outside of tort cases?
The restriction as stated in Rule 55.19 is tied to actions for damages based on an alleged tort.
Source & verification. Rule text and amendment history are
reproduced verbatim from the Missouri State & Federal Court Rules, adopted by the
Supreme Court of Missouri. Last verified July 22, 2026. ·
Official source
Also known as: special damages pleadingpunitive damages pleading Missouriexemplary damages petitionno dollar amount punitive damagesitemizing special damages