Torts: Tortious Interference-Sufficiency of Allegations

Plaintiff appealed the trial court’s dismissal of its complaint against defendants for tortious interference with business expectancy and civil conspiracy, arguing that it pled sufficient facts to establish its right to relief. Plaintiff alleged that defendants interfered with its contracts with its customers by encouraging customers to cease making payments to plaintiff.

Where defendant attorneys were privileged to advise their clients, plaintiff’s customers, even though that advice could cause the customers to tortiously interfere with a contract, defendants were not liable as there was no allegation that they employed wrongful means or failed to act in good faith to protect the client’s interests.

Judgment is affirmed.

Branson’s Nantucket, LLC v. Timeshare Law Office, LLC (MLW No. 82662/Case No. SD38350 – 24 pages) (Missouri Court of Appeals, Southern District, Chapman, J.) Appealed from circuit court, Barry County, Cole, J. (Michael David Textor, Springfield; Joseph Taylor White, Springfield; and Dennis Dean Kirk, Springfield for appellant) (Randall Ray Cowherd, Springfield and Philip Ross Quinn, Springfield for respondents)