The claim requires a reasonable probability of a business relationship, the defendant's knowledge, intentional interference by improper means, and resulting damages. No existing contract is required.
The improper means requirement is stricter than for contract interference.
Alternative Names:
Interference with Business Expectancy, Prospective Economic Advantage
Why it Matters?
The absence of a contract means courts require more culpable conduct, typically independently wrongful acts such as fraud, defamation, or statutory violation rather than merely aggressive competition. Speculative expectancies also fail, since a plaintiff must identify a specific relationship with a specific party rather than a general market opportunity. Both requirements make this claim substantially harder than contract interference.
Frequently Confused with
Related terms
Frequently asked questions
How does this differ from contract interference?
What defeats the claim?
