To grow and expand your business, you strive to make connections with others. You build up your business relationships, aiming to move forward toward success and profit. However, sometimes, others knowingly discredit and break the relationships you build because they prefer to work with family.
How can kinship bias contribute to tortious interference?
Tortious interference typically involves a third party that intentionally disrupts a contractual or business relationship. Kinship bias or blood relation bias, on its own, cannot be considered as such. However, if someone intentionally disrupts a business or contractual relationship to prefer working with kin, it can mean a breach of contract.
You need to prove the following to successfully claim tortious interference:
- Existence of a valid contract or business relationship
- The interfering party must be aware of this relationship
- Proof of intentional inference from kin
- Evidence that the interference causes harm to the business
- Evidence of damage due to interference
You can also see bias through hiring practices, contract arrangements, and legal judgments. You can confidently make your claim if you have proof.
How can you protect your business?
You can prevent any interference, whether by kinship bias or other factors, through:
- Legal safeguards to ensure that your contract has strong non-compete and confidentiality clauses
- Monitor your business relationships and take notice of any unusual activities
- Be prepared to take legal action if you suspect tortious interference
To maintain your business’s integrity, it is crucial to understand and address tortious interference immediately. Whether it is due to kinship bias or another reason, consulting a lawyer can provide tailored advice and legal support.