Full question:
I lease out space on behalf of an antique mall. The lease agreement includes a provision about maintaining a professional manner and treating people with respect. Due to one tenant’s frequent outbursts on new policies, personal harassment and complaints, I sent her a letter with a three week notice to vacate her space. She proceeded to post signs in her booth that she had lost her lease and had taken space in another mall that she called the "friendly" mall. At this mall she has been passing around the letter I sent to her to other antique dealers and speaking of her discontent, anger and dislike of me. She has also gone to one of our long time seasonal employees with all this and now this person no longer wishes to work for us this summer. I feel what she is doing is slander and that it is wrong. What can I do?
- Category: Civil Actions
- Subcategory: Defamation
- Date:
- State: Michigan
Answer:
You may have a civil case for tortious interference with a business relationship. To establish this, you need to prove:
- There is a valid business relationship or expectancy.
- The interferer knows about this relationship or expectancy.
- The interferer intentionally and unjustifiably interferes.
- This interference caused harm.
- You suffered damages due to the disruption.
This tort can occur if someone induces a third party not to engage in a business relationship or prevents the continuation of such a relationship. However, the interference must be considered "improper" for a legal claim to succeed. You can pursue a claim for tortious interference with existing or potential customers, but not for interference with your business's relationship to the general community. Importantly, a valid business relationship does not need to be based on a formal contract, but it should provide you with existing or prospective legal rights.
This content is for informational purposes only and is not legal advice. Legal statutes mentioned reflect the law at the time the content was written and may no longer be current. Always verify the latest version of the law before relying on it.