Opinion ID: 1262081
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 7

Heading: Breach of Contract Accompanied by a Fraudulent Act Claim

Text: Finally, the City argues that summary judgment on Conner's claim for breach of contract accompanied by a fraudulent act was proper because Conner failed to establish fraudulent intent and a fraudulent act. Therefore, the City maintains the Court of Appeals erred in reversing summary judgment. We disagree. In order to have a claim for breach of contract accompanied by a fraudulent act, the plaintiff must establish three elements: (1) a breach of contract; (2) fraudulent intent relating to the breaching of the contract and not merely to its making; and (3) a fraudulent act accompanying the breach. Harper v. Ethridge, 290 S.C. 112, 348 S.E.2d 374 (Ct.App. 1986). The fraudulent act is any act characterized by dishonesty in fact or unfair dealing. Id. Fraud, in this sense, assumes so many hues and forms, that courts are compelled to content themselves with comparatively few general rules for its discovery and defeat, and allow the facts and circumstances peculiar to each case to bear heavily upon the conscience and judgment of the court or jury in determining its presence or absence. Sullivan v. Calhoun, 117 S.C. 137, 139, 108 S.E. 189, 189 (1921) (citation omitted). Conner contends that the City and its agents committed numerous fraudulent acts in connection with her termination. Primarily, however, Conner's claim is that the City fabricated pretextual reasons for Conner's termination knowing the reasons were false and did not justify termination for cause. Viewing the evidence in the light most favorable to Conner, as we must, we find there is a genuine issue of material fact as to whether the City fraudulently breached its contract. See Harper, supra (the fraudulent act is any act characterized by dishonesty in fact or unfair dealing); Sullivan, supra (fraud may assume many hues and forms). Accordingly, the Court of Appeals did not err in reversing summary judgment on this claim.