A professional musician signed a contract to perform at a private event organized by an event planner. The musician's rival, aware of the contract, offered the musician double the agreed-upon fee to perform at the rival's own event scheduled for the same night. The musician accepted the rival's offer without notifying the original event planner and failed to perform at the previously agreed-upon event. The event planner sued the rival for intentional interference with a contractual relationship. Which of the following would most influence whether the rival can be held liable?
Whether the rival knew about the existing contractual obligations of the musician.
Whether the rival renegotiated a new contract with the musician after the breach occurred.
Whether the musician received a higher fee from the rival than offered by the event planner.
Whether the event where the musician performed for the rival was more high-profile than the original event.
To establish intentional interference with a contractual relationship, the plaintiff must prove: (1) the existence of a valid contract, (2) the defendant's knowledge of that contract, (3) intentional acts that induced a breach or disrupted performance, (4) an actual breach or disruption, and (5) resulting damages. The defendant's knowledge of the contract is indispensable because, without that knowledge, the defendant cannot intentionally cause its breach. If the rival did not know about the existing agreement, the intent element fails and liability will not attach. By contrast, the size of the rival's fee, the prestige of the substitute event, or any later renegotiation after the breach do not bear directly on the required elements of the tort.
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What constitutes intentional interference with a contractual relationship?
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What are 'improper means' in the context of this tort?
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Why is the rival's knowledge of the contract significant?