Opinion ID: 1427467
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Damages for the second period of business loss (December 1985-June 1986).

Text: After giving its entire business to LTR for a year (October 1984-October 1985) and then directing all of its business to Gray Line for about two months, USA Hosts began splitting its business between the competitors beginning December 1985. This continued until June 1986. Gray Line asserts that it suffered damages during this period because it received less of USA Hosts' business and LTR's actions again caused it. There is no doubt that promising and paying illegal commissions was improper and was the reason for the switch of USA Hosts' business to LTR in October 1984. However, the evidence is unclear why USA Hosts changed from giving all of its business to Gray Line to an equal division between the competitors beginning December 1985. The president of USA Hosts simply stated that he made this move because LTR agreed to make amends for its past failure. No evidence of improper commissions promised or paid to induce this shift of business was produced. USA Hosts is free to give its business to whomever it wants. The recipient of that business is liable to the prior business recipient only if the present recipient tortiously interfered with a business relationship. Gray Line has not established any illegal or improper interference with its relationship with USA Hosts in November or December 1985. The earlier promise of illegal commissions supports the loss of business for the initial one year period. However, that evidence does not establish a subsequent improper action once USA Hosts and Gray Line became reunited. If there is insufficient evidence to support one or more elements of an alleged tortious act, there can be no recovery. See Atkin Wright & Miles v. Montana States Tel, 709 P.2d 330, 337 (Utah Sup.Ct. 1985). Because the interference with Gray Line's business relationship by LTR for the period of December 1985 through June 1986 was not established to be improper, damages of $63,961 allegedly suffered during 1986 by Gray Line cannot be sustained.