Tortious interference claim; TCPA satisfied

January 3, 2019

The ongoing geyser of TCPA opinions continues with Dickens v. Webster, a tortious interference case arising from a dispute among attorneys about a contingent fee agreement. It offers three points of broad interest:

  • The TCPA does not require that a statement be made to the public;
  • For the “commercial speech” exemption to apply, the communications at issue must relate to the defendant’s services – not the plaintiff’s; and
  • On page 15 of the opinion, a “road map” for establishing a prima facie case of tortious interference; here, the alleged substitution of one contract for another, accompanied by emails supporting the plaintiff’s version of events.

No. 05-17-00423-CV (Dec. 31, 2018) (mem. op)