Issue: Under Minnesota law, what is required to state a viable claim for tortious interference with prospective advantage?
| Area of Law: | Business Organizations & Contracts |
| Keywords: | Claim of tortious interference; Prospective advantage; Contractual relationship |
| Jurisdiction: | Minnesota |
| Cited Cases: | 313 N.W.2d 628 |
| Cited Statutes: | None |
| Date: | 03/01/2014 |
To establish a claim of tortious interference with a prospective business relationship (or prospective advantage), a plaintiff must prove three elements: (1) a defendant intentionally and improperly committed a wrongful act; (2) that act interfered with the plaintiff’s prospective contractual relationship; and (3) the plaintiff suffered pecuniary harm. United Wild Rice, Inc. v. Nelson, 313 N.W.2d 628, 632-33 (Minn. 1982).
The existence of an actual contractual relationship is immaterial because tortious interference with prospective advantage, does not have an element requiring the existence of a current contract. United Wild Rice, 313 N.W.2d at 632-33.
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