Tortious Interference With Economic Relations In New York: Elements & Defenses

I. Elements

What is tortious interference? Tortious interference is a common law tort that most often arises in commercial litigation when one party damages another party's contractual or business relationship with others. Most jurisdictions recognize separate claims for tortious interference with contract and tortious interference with business relationships.

The claim for tortious interference with economic relations has four elements. To establish a claim for tortious interference with economic relations or prospective business advantage, a plaintiff must demonstrate that:

1. The plaintiff had business relations with a third party;
2. The defendant interfered with those business relations;