Generally, the courts are unwilling to interfere in the normal competition between businesses. But over the years, tort law has evolved to prevent wrongful interference in the business world. In Florida, business lawyers pay close attention to decisions about wrongful conduct, since its definition can change over time.
Wrongful conduct is a big problem in the business world because it undermines contracts. Contracts are fundamental when it comes to business relationships. They set forth the rights and responsibilities of each party as well as the scope of the work to be done. Without solid rules about contracts in place, it becomes difficult for people to trust each other enough to do business with each other.
When wrongful conduct occurs, it impacts a valid contract between two parties that was already in place. Essentially, a third party interferes in the business inappropriately. Wrongful conduct includes causing a breach of a contract or disrupting the completion of a contract. But wrongful conduct can also be determined to be an unsuccessful attempt to disrupt the work in a contract or to make the parties breach it.
These kinds of torts are defined as intentional. This means that someone is knowingly doing something wrong in attempting to interfere in a contract. In addition to interference, other intentional torts can include things like defamation, embezzlement and trespassing. These are all actions that reasonable people understand to be prohibited.
Sometimes, even disgruntled employees will steal information in an attempt to interfere in contracts. Defendants who find themselves dealing with this kind of intentional tort need to find experienced help. Lawyers experienced with business torts will know how to protect the contractual relationships that are so crucial to the viability of a business.
