Associated Management Services, Inc. v. Ruff, Case Number DA 17-0102, Cit. 2018 MT 182

Tortious interference with business relations: Prospective economic advantage:

The essential elements of tortious interference with business relations or prospective economic advantage are: (1) an intentional act or conduct by the alleged tortfeasor; (2) performed by the tortfeasor “without right or justifiable cause”; (3) performed for the purpose of causing damage or loss to another; and (4) resulting damages. Maloney v. Home & Inv. Ctr., Inc., 2000 MT 34, ¶ 41, 298 Mont. 213, 994 P.2d 1124 (distinguishing tortious interference with contractual relations). Here, as correctly concluded by the District Court, AMS acted lawfully within its contract rights regarding TimeTracker and did not impede or interfere with Ruff’s ability to independently market TimeTracker, either to existing AMS clients or to new clients.

(Montana Supreme Court, July 24, 2018, Associated Management Services, Inc. v. Ruff, Case Number DA 17-0102, Cit. 2018 MT 182, J. Sandefur)

Affaire jugée en application du droit de l’état du Montana.

Notion d’ingérence illicite dans les relations d’affaire d’un tiers, dans le but de lui porter préjudice, et lui causant effectivement un dommage.