Opinion ID: 771387
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 5

Heading: Tortious Interference with Contract and Prospective Business Relations

Text: 69 Ruiz and Fasteel's final non-patent claim alleges that Chance had disrupted or destroyed Fasteel's existing and prospective contractual and business relations. In order to prevail, Ruiz and Fasteel must prove five elements: 1) a contract or valid business expectancy; 2) Chance's knowledge of the contract or relationship; 3) intentional interference by Chance inducing or causing a breach of the contract or relationship; 4) absence of justification; and 5) damages resulting from Chance's conduct. See Nazeri v. Mo. Valley Coll., 860 S.W.2d 303, 316 (Mo. 1993) (en banc);Thomas Phelps Found. v. Custom Ins. Co., 977 S.W.2d 33, 37 (Mo. Ct. App. 1998). Ruiz and Fasteel contend that Chance notified its dealers that Chance terminated Fasteel due to bad credit, and that Chance was attempting to sell directly to them, in violation of their agreement with Fasteel. The district court found that except for Ruiz's uncorroborated statement, there was no evidence that Chance ever made such a statement, or that Chance's alleged statement caused the breach of any contract Fasteel may have had with its dealers. Accordingly, the district court's grant of summary judgment was proper.