Opinion ID: 1669064
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Award of Damages for Tortious Interference.

Text: We next consider the arguments of defendants Les J. Campbell and Norma Campbell that the record fails to support the district court's finding that they tortiously interfered with the noncompetition clause in the franchise agreement between Casey's and Campbell Oil. We will assume that any violations of the noncompetition clause by Campbell Oil were induced by these defendants. As a result of our conclusions in the preceding division of this opinion, however, Campbell Oil did not violate the noncompetition agreement at the State Center situs. Consequently, there was no interference with the franchise agreement which might be labeled as tortious. Much of the evidence at trial concerning questionable competitive activities of Campbell Oil related to the operation at the Gilman store. Those activities can form no basis for upholding the tortious interference claim, however, because it has been determined that the Gilman store lies outside of the zone in which competition is prohibited. The judgment awarding money damages on the tortious interference claim is reversed, and the injunction is modified as herein provided. Costs on appeal are assessed twenty percent against appellants; eighty percent against appellee. DECREE GRANTING INJUNCTIVE RELIEF AFFIRMED AS MODIFIED; JUDGMENT FOR MONEY DAMAGES REVERSED.