What is an essential element of tortious interference in Georgia?

In tortious interference cases in Georgia, an essential element is the defendant’s knowledge of the contract and the intentional interference with that contract. For a plaintiff to prevail in a claim for tortious interference, they must demonstrate that the defendant knowingly interfered with an existing contractual relationship, which implies that the defendant was aware of the contract's existence and chose to interfere with it intentionally.

This knowledge requirement means that the defendant’s actions were not merely inadvertent or accidental; rather, there was a deliberate attempt to affect the relationship between the contracting parties. Intentionality is key in establishing that the defendant acted with a purpose to disrupt the contractual relationship.

Other elements that typically accompany a tortious interference claim include showing that the interference caused actual damages to the plaintiff. However, merely having damages does not stand alone as an essential element without the requisite knowledge and intent regarding the contract involved. Therefore, this focus on knowledge and intentional interference makes the answer correct and highlights the deliberate nature of the defendant's actions in tortious interference claims.