Markets encourage competition, but sometimes things can go too far and competitive behavior can cross the line into the realm of the improper and tortious conduct. That's when the courts can step in -- specifically, in lawsuits for tortious interference with a contract or business expectancy. Tortious interference, a common law economic tort, occurs when one party interferes with the contracts or relationships of another party with the intent of causing economic harm.
For example, someone could improperly interfere with the sale of a business that has reached the final stages but not yet been formalized in a written agreement. An individual could also induce someone to cease an informal business relationship.
Common Forms of Tortious Interference
The most common form of interference, however, occurs when an individual forces or induces someone to break a contract they have with a third party. This can happen in many ways: someone could offer below market prices to induce a breach, they could blackmail or threaten someone into violating a contract, or they could make it impossible for the other person to perform and receive the benefits of that contract - by refusing to transport goods, for instance.
Remember, the defendant must act intentionally – negligence is not enough. Just because the act was intentional, however, doesn't necessarily mean that it was tortious interference.
In order to determine whether a tort has occurred, courts examine the motivation of the party that caused the breach to determine whether or not they acted in an improper fashion. If the person making the business decision doesn't have an improper motive for their behavior, then it doesn't amount to tortious interference.
The Defendant
In a tortious interference case, the defendant is the person who interfered with the contract or business relationship, whether through inducement, blackmail, force or inappropriate or unethical practices.
The Plaintiff
There are two potential types of victims in a tortious interference case: the person or persons induced or forced into violating the terms of a contract or relationship, and other parties to the contract who were bound by its terms yet lost the benefit of the contract due to the interference. Both types of victims can sue the person who committed the interference for any damages they suffer.
Elements of a Tortious Interference Claim
The basic elements of a tortious interference claim are as follows:
Valid Contract or Economic Expectancy
In order to make a tortious interference claim, the plaintiff must have enjoyed valid contractual or business relations with another party. If the contract or expectancy in question was not properly created or violates public policy, then the defendant will have no liability for its breach. In effect, the contract never existed, so the defendant couldn't have caused its breach.
Certain contracts that are terminable at will present interesting situations for tortious interference claims. Just because a party can end a contract at will doesn't give the defendant the ability to induce that termination. If the defendant knowingly causes someone to end an at-will contractual or business relationship, and the motive for causing the termination is improper, they can still be held responsible for tortious interference.
Defendant's Knowledge
Whether or not a defendant knew of the contract or business expectancy poses a question of fact for the court. If the defendant had no knowledge, then they could not have intentional interfered with the contract or expectancy.
The plaintiff can show the defendant's knowledge through an explicit statement or writing, or it can be inferred from circumstances surrounding the events in question.
Also, courts will find that a defendant had knowledge of a valid contract or business relationship even if the defendant honestly believed that the contract or relationship was invalid. Thus, a defendant who knows that two parties have signed a contract, but doesn't think that the contract is valid, still has "knowledge" of the contractual relationship for the purposes of a tortious interference claim.
Intent
The defendant must have intended to interfere with the contract or business expectancy in order to be held liable for tortious interference.
Intent can mean two things here, however: First, the defendant could have explicitly desired to interfere with the contract or expectancy. Second, the defendant could have had some other purpose in mind, but acted with the knowledge that the interference was certain or substantially certain to occur.
Not every intentional interference is tortious, either. Since numerous valid business actions could interfere with a contract or business expectancy, only those actions with improper motives will amount to tortious interference.
Actual Interference
The defendant's actions must cause an actual interference in order for the plaintiff to have a valid claim. If the defendant unsuccessfully attempts to induce or force someone to break a contract, no tortious interference has occurred.
Improper Interference
The intent driving a behavior distinguishes acceptable interference from tortious interference. When the defendant has improper motivations for taking certain actions they become tortious, even though the same actions with a legitimate motivation might not constitute a tort.
For example, Adam could refuse to do business with Bill after learning that Bill has a contract or business relationship with an organization that Adam finds morally distasteful. Adam knows that his business is worth more to Bill than the other organization's and that his refusal to deal is substantially certain to cause Bill to terminate his contractual or business relationship with the other organization. Since his motivation is not improper, Bill's actions would not satisfy a claim of tortious interference by the other organization.
On the other hand, if Adam means to punish the other organization or put them out of business by taking the advantages of their relationship with Bill away, it is more likely that a tortious interference has occurred.
Factors to Determine Improper Interference
Here are the various factors that go into a determination of whether an interference was improper or not:
Once tortious interference has been established, the plaintiffs are entitled to damages. These damages including monetary loss, punitive damages, and more.
Get Legal Help with Your Tortious Interference Claim
Business is a rough sport, and sometimes business relationships end and individuals and organizations can suffer because of it. The aggrieved party can bring a suit for tortious interference with a contract or business expectancy in many circumstances. If you believe you've been the victim of tortious interference, you should contact an experienced business and commercial lawyer to learn about your options.
