Opinion ID: 2100113
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: Intentional Interference with Contractual and Business Relations

Text: Count IV alleges intentional interference with the existing contractual relationship between June Roberts and the Larreas; namely, the listing agreement. Count V alleges that Venture and Rocheleau knew of and interfered with a prospective business relationship between June Roberts and Larrea. Count VI alleges that Rocheleau intentionally interfered with the existing business relationship between June Roberts and Venture, the corporation of which he is the sole stockholder and president. The court granted a summary judgment as to all three counts because June Roberts failed to produce any evidence. . . that defendants interfered with its contractual relations through either fraud or intimidation. A party can recover damages for a tortious interference with a contract if a person by fraud or intimidation procures the breach of a contract that would have continued but for such wrongful interference. Grover v. Minette-Mills, Inc., 638 A.2d 712, 716 (Me.1994); see also C.N. Brown Co. v. Gillen, 569 A.2d 1206, 1210 (Me.1990) (requiring showing that fraud or intimidation resulted in breach of existing contract that would have continued but for wrongful interference). Additionally, the relationship that is interfered with must be existing. St. Hilaire v. Berta, 588 A.2d 309, 310 (Me.1991). Because the record contains nothing to suggest any fraud or intimidation on the part of Venture or Rocheleau in any of the dealings at issue in this case the summary judgment as to Counts IV through VI was properly granted. [3]