Canada Steamship Lines Inc. v. Elliott

This was a motion to strike a counterclaim on the grounds that it failed to disclose a reasonable cause of action. The counterclaim alleged an intentional interference with contractual relations relating to the use of a ship. The motion was denied by the Prothonotary who reviewed the relevant authorities and concluded that the impugned pleading contained allegations of the essential elements of the tort of interference with economic relations, namely: an intention to injure; interference by illegal means; and economic loss as a consequence. Unlike the tort of inducing breach of contract, there was no requirement to plead or prove knowledge of a specific contract or that the actions of the defendants resulted in a breach of a specific contract.