Opinion ID: 523612
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Dismissal of tortious interference claim

Text: 14 Stone's Pharmacy also asserted a claim against FoxMeyer for tortious interference with the maintenance contract between PAM and Stone's Pharmacy. The district court dismissed this claim at the same time it dismissed the bulk sales claim. Although the court dismissed both of Pharmacy's claims, it discussed its reasons for the dismissal only in connection with the claim under the Bulk Transfers Act. Assuming that the court dismissed the tort claim for the same reasons, we find that the court erred in doing so. 15 It is clear that PAM is not a necessary party to the tort claim. Although the claim arose out of the sale of PAM's assets to FoxMeyer, there is no need for PAM to be involved in the action. Any potential liability on the part of PAM for breach of contract is irrelevant to this claim. The fact that PAM failed to perform the contract is simply an element of proof which Stone's Pharmacy has the burden of showing. 16 It is also apparent that this cause of action has no connection with the bankruptcy proceedings of PAM and therefore the automatic stay would not be applicable. Consequently, we find that dismissal of this claim was not proper and that the automatic stay does not affect the continuance of this claim.