CATLIN v. NICK DUKE LLC (2024)

Order, Supreme Court, New York County (Frank P. Nervo, J.), entered November 20, 2023, which denied defendant's motion to dismiss the complaint for failure to state a cause of action, unanimously reversed, on the law, without costs, and the motion granted.  The Clerk is directed to enter judgment accordingly.

The complaint failed to state a cause of action for tortious interference with contract because it did not assert that defendant intentionally interfered with plaintiff's relocation contract with Audthan LLC (see Lama Holding Co. v. Smith Barney, 88 N.Y.2d 413, 424 [1996]).  The complaint alleged that defendant's motive in preventing Audthan from commencing the development project and complying with the relocation contract with plaintiff was economic in that the market had changed and defendant's lease with Audthan was no longer sufficiently profitable for defendant.  Accordingly, plaintiff does not have a cause of action, because defendant's interference with the contract between plaintiff and Audthan was merely negligent or incidental to some other lawful purpose (see Alvord & Swift v. Muller Constr.  Co., 46 N.Y.2d 276, 281 [1978]).

We have considered plaintiff's remaining arguments and find them unavailing.