Opinion ID: 1800410
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Actual Damage and Loss Resulted.

Text: ¶ 37. Next we must consider whether the Under the Hill Saloon was damaged by the actions of the Biglanes. To satisfy this tort, we require actual damages, which are synonymous with compensatory damages; they are substantial, rather than nominal. ACI Chems., Inc. v. Metaplex, Inc., 615 So.2d 1192, 1202 (Miss.1993). ¶ 38. This does not mean that an exact dollar value must be set before we can find actual damages. In the case of ACI Chemicals, we affirmed a chancellor's finding of tortious interference with business relations when a company, after suffering interference from a competitor, no longer received any new orders from a customer; when its credit line was frozen; and it lost the opportunity to solicit business from at least three potential customers. Id. at 1202. We found that this was evidence of actual damages. Id. This is in accord with the public policy underscoring this tort: to maintain a fair and legal playing field between competitors in the business arena. ¶ 39. In the case at hand, Under the Hill conceded that it could not demonstrate a loss of income from the lack of parking. In fact, business had slightly increased after the parking lots were blocked by Mr. Biglane, which was attributed by Mr. Farish to more riverboats docking in Natchez. There was evidence that one server at the Saloon had worked less than she had in years, but no receipts or other evidence was presented by the Saloon to demonstrate any sort of a loss. In its amended order the trial court found that punitive damages were not warranted under these facts, and accordingly declined to assess attorney's fees against the Biglanes. Compare ACI Chems., 615 So.2d at 1194 (attorney's fees can be warranted when trial court assesses punitive damages in tortious interference with business case). ¶ 40. The trial court assessed a damages award of $500 for nominal damages because it determined the Biglanes' conduct was intentional. The trial court based this finding upon the basic legal concept that nominal damages can be awarded for intentional torts. See Williams v. Wiggins, 285 So.2d 163, 164-65 (Miss.1973) (nominal damages . . . can only be granted in the absence of actual injury in cases of intentional tort, and not in cases involving negligence). The situation at hand is different. Unlike intentional torts such as trespass or battery, actual damage and loss is a required component of the tort of interference with business relations. As noted supra, this factor can be met in differing ways, but it must be met. The Under the Hill Saloon admitted it had suffered no actual damage or loss. Nominal damages do not satisfy a finding of the tort of intentional interference with business relations. In this type of case, there must be actual damages. Because the fourth factor was not met, there cannot be a tortious interference with business and the award of nominal damages must be reversed.