Intentional Interference with Economic Relations

Cable Assembly Systems Ltd. et al. v. Ben Barnes et al., 2019 ONSC 97 (CanLII)

[55] Justice Nordheimer in Janssen-Ortho Inc. v. Amgen Canada Inc. (2003), 2003 CanLII 26024 (ON SC), 26 C.P.R. (4th) 93 (Ont. S.C.) stated at para. 58:

In order to establish the tort of intentional interference with economic relations, Janssen must be able to establish three things:

(a) an intention to injure the plaintiff;

(b) interference with another’s method of gaining his or her living or business by illegal means; and

(c) economic loss caused thereby.

Murphy v. Sutton Group, 2019 ONSC 2078 (CanLII)

[94] There are three essential elements of the tort of intentional interference with economic relations:

i. the defendant must have intended to injure the plaintiff’s economic interest;

ii. the interference must have been by illegal or unlawful means; and

iii. the plaintiff must have suffered economic harm or loss as a result.

Grant Financial Management Inc. v. Solemio Transportation Inc., 2016 ONCA 175 (CanLII) at para. 62. To successfully establish the tort, a plaintiff must prove a causal connection between the unlawful means and the loss suffered; Alleslev-Krofchak v. Valcom Limited, 2010 ONCA 557 (CanLII) at para. 50; leave to appeal refused (2010) S.C.C.A. No. 403. Intentionally interfering with another person’s economic interests is not actionable if the means used are lawful; Ontario Racing Commission v. O’Dwyer, 2008 ONCA 446 (CanLII) at para. 57.