What Is Tortious Interference? Part 2

Transcript

Hi, I'm Regina Campbell from The Campbell Law Group, and we're back here today for tip number two on tortious interference. Today we're going to talk a little bit about tortious interference with a business relationship, which is also known as tortious interference with an advantageous business relationship, or an economic relationship. Don't let the name scare you. It sounds a little bit intimidating, but it's actually fairly simple to understand, although most people are a little bit put off by what this is.

"Regina, what is tortious interference? It sounds so severe." Tortious interference with a business relationship is the existence of a relationship between two parties, particularly, on this occasion, two business parties, and a third person, who we can call the defendant, comes in, knows about the relationship, and intentionally looks to interfere and unjustifiably break apart the relationship, or cause a breach in the relationship.

For tortious interference, the four elements to prove this kind of cause of action are the existence of a business relationship, the defendant's knowledge of the relationship, and the defendant's unjustified interference with the relationship, coupled with one of the most important elements, and one of the hardest to prove, which is damages. The defendant's interference has to have caused the plaintiff's damages. So the defendant can actually interfere, but if it's not the cause of the plaintiff's damages, you do not have a cause of action for tortious interference with a business relationship. Very important to understand that.

So hopefully these are helpful tips that you received from us today. Stay tuned to hear a little bit more about tortious interference with a contractual relationship.