Tenn. Code Ann. » Tenn. Code / Title 47 / Chapter 50
Tennessee Code Annotated

Tenn. Code Ann. § 47-50-109 (2026)

Procurement of breach of contracts unlawful - Damages

✓ current as of May 2026
Find cases: SyfertCases citing this section JustiaTenn. Code CornellLII Search CasesGoogle Scholar

It is unlawful for any person, by inducement, persuasion, misrepresentation, or other means, to induce or procure the breach or violation, refusal or failure to perform any lawful contract by any party thereto; and, in every case where a breach or violation of such contract is so procured, the person so procuring or inducing the same shall be liable in treble the amount of damages resulting from or incident to the breach of the contract. The party injured by such breach may bring suit for the breach and for such damages.

Acts 1907, ch. 154, § 1; Shan., § 3193a8; mod. Code 1932, §7811; T.C.A. (orig. ed.), §§ 47-1706, 47-15-113.

Notes of Decisions
Cited in 165 cases (31 in the last 5 years), 1984–2026 · leading case: Buddy Lee Attractions, Inc. v. William Morris Agency, Inc., 13 S.W.3d 343 (Tenn. Ct. App. 1999).
Sort: Relevance Newest Treatment
Buddy Lee Attractions, Inc. v. William Morris Agency, Inc., 13 S.W.3d 343 (Tenn. Ct. App. 1999). · cites it 63× “Tenn. Code Ann. § 47-50-109 (1995). Much discussion took place at trial and on appeal regarding a plaintiff's burden of proof according to the statute.”
Tennison Bros., Inc. v. William H. Thomas, Jr., 556 S.W.3d 697 (Tenn. Ct. App. 2017). · cites it 12× “Tenn. Code Ann. § 47-50-109 . The other cause of action asserted, intentional interference with business relations, “extends beyond situations in which there exists a valid contractual relationship.”
Hawkins v. Hart, 86 S.W.3d 522 (Tenn. Ct. App. 2001). · cites it 5× “is not an appropriate equitable remedy given the absence of liability under T.C.A. § 47-50-109, the facts as presented to the Court, and the findings in the Order granting Defendants Superior Motors, Inc.”
Shahrdar v. Global Hous., Inc., 983 S.W.2d 230 (Tenn. Ct. App. 1998). · cites it 8× “Plaintiff seeks treble damages from Sharifpour individually for inducement of breach of contract in violation of T.C.A. § 47-50-109. Plaintiff alleges that Sharifpour had instructed Behzad Com-pani, another Global employee, not to pay plaintiff, and that he later instructed his…”
Hanger Prosthetics & Orthotics East, Inc. v. William C. Kitchens, 280 S.W.3d 192 (Tenn. Ct. App. 2008). · cites it 18× “(“Choice Medical”), had induced Kitchens to breach the contract in violation of Tenn.Code Ann. § 47-50-109, and that an award of treble damages was appropriate.”
Smith v. Harriman Util. Bd., 26 S.W.3d 879 (Tenn. Ct. App. 2000). · cites it 16× “Plaintiff was an employee of HUB, and after his employment was terminated filed suit for breach of contract, procurement of breach of contract in violation of T.C.A. § 47-50-109, retaliatory discharge, and promissory estoppel.”
B & L CORP. v. Thomas & Thorngren, Inc., 162 S.W.3d 189 (Tenn. Ct. App. 2004). · cites it 8× “" The third count set forth in the complaint, inducement to breach a contract, alleged that defendants Thomas, Thorngren, and T & T Corporation violated T.C.A. § 47-50-109 in unlawfully procuring "the termination and breach of employment agreements" of former B & L employees…”
Myers v. Pickering Firm, Inc., 959 S.W.2d 152 (Tenn. Ct. App. 1997). · cites it 10× “The complaint seeks both compensatory and punitive damages for the libel and also seeks recovery both under the common law and by virtue of T.C.A. § 47-50-109 (1995) for the procurement of the breach of the contracts.”
Cambio Health Solutions, LLC v. Reardon, 213 S.W.3d 785 (Tenn. 2006). · cites it 6× “1977); see also Tenn.Code Ann. § 47-50-109 (2001) (“It is unlawful for any person .”
Polk & Sullivan, Inc. v. United Cities Gas Co., 783 S.W.2d 538 (Tenn. 1989). · cites it 8× “" Polk and Sullivan contends that Marsh & McLennan "acted maliciously" to induce United Cities Gas to breach its contract with Polk and Sullivan.”
Schlater v. Haynie, 833 S.W.2d 919 (Tenn. Ct. App. 1991). · cites it 6× “Schlater and would impose treble damages under Tenn.Code Ann. § 47-50-109? All defendants .”
Tamarin Lindenberg v. Jackson Nat'l Life Ins. Co., 912 F.3d 348 (6th Cir. 2018). · cites it 2× “, Tenn. Code Ann. § 47-50-109 (providing treble damages for inducing breach of contract).”
Show all 165 citing cases →
Annotations are extracted automatically from the opinions in the Syfert caselaw corpus and ranked by authority, recency, and treatment. Dots show Syfertize treatment of the citing case itself.