27.8 Business Expectancy

• Jurisdiction: Arizona

27.8 Business Expectancy. Arizona courts have recognized that a business expectancy interest may be broader than a contractual interest.⁵⁵ Nevertheless, the claimant is required to identify a specific relationship with which the defendant interfered.⁵⁶ The rule is that a “tortious interference with a business relationship requires a business relationship evidenced by an actual and identifiable understanding or agreement which in all probability would have been completed if the defendant had not interfered.”⁵⁷ A claim is insufficient unless the plaintiff alleges facts showing that the expectancy interest constitutes more than a mere hope. Under certain circumstances, however, the plaintiff may not be required to identify a specific person or entity as long as a class of entities or individuals is specifically identifiable.⁵⁸

In Dube , plaintiff alleged a tortious interference of an expectancy interest against university officials when he could not secure employment based upon the reporting of false information regarding his citizenship status. Plaintiff alleged that he was unable to...