Opinion ID: 169651
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 4

Heading: Interference Torts

Text: Finally, TMJI claims that the statements in the bulletins constituted intentional interference with prospective business relations and contracts. Colorado follows the Restatement with respect to the elements of both intentional interference with prospective business relations and intentional interference with contract: One who intentionally and improperly interferes with another's prospective contractual relation (except a contract to marry) is subject to liability to the other for the pecuniary harm resulting from loss of the benefits of the relation, whether the interference consists of (a) inducing or otherwise causing a third person not to enter into or continue the prospective relation or (b) preventing the other from acquiring or continuing the prospective relation. Amoco Oil Co. v. Ervin, 908 P.2d 493, 500-01 (Colo.1995) (quoting Restatement § 766B) (emphasis added). And [o]ne who intentionally and improperly interferes with the performance of a contract (except a contract to marry) between another and a third person by inducing or otherwise causing the third person not to perform the contract, is subject to liability to the other for the pecuniary loss resulting to the other from the failure of the third person to perform the contract. Mem'l Gardens, Inc. v. Olympian Sales & Mgmt. Consultants, Inc., 690 P.2d 207, 210 (Colo.1984) (quoting Restatement § 766) (emphasis added). Thus, for either claim to proceed, the interference must have been improper. If the alleged impropriety, however, is an allegedly defamatory statement, then the interference claim must fail if the statement is not an actionable defamation. We have addressed this issue in a diversity case governed by Colorado law. In Jefferson County School District No. R-1 v. Moody's Investor's Services, 175 F.3d 848, 856-58 (10th Cir.1999), the plaintiff based its claims for intentional interference with contractual and business relations on allegedly defamatory statements made by the defendant. We held that lawful speech could not form the basis of the interference claims because such activity was not improper. See id. at 858. Although the speech in that case was constitutionally protected, we see no reason to distinguish speech protected from a defamation claim under the common law. The interests served by that protection would be undermined if the common law recognized a different tort based on the same speech. We are aware of no authority to the contrary. Accordingly, we affirm the district court's dismissal of TMJI's tortious-interference claims.