CS/HB 313 2022
CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
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F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
A bill to be entitled 1
An act relating to tortious interference with a 2
contract or business relationship; creating s. 68.075, 3
F.S.; providing definitions; prohibiting a person from 4
using specified means to intentionally and unjustly 5
cause the breach or violation of, of the refus al or 6
failure to perform, a lawful contract or interfere 7
with or disrupt a business relationship; creating a 8
civil cause of action for treble damages and other 9
relief; providing for attorney fees and costs to a 10
prevailing plaintiff; prohibiting the enforce ment of 11
certain contracts; providing that the civil remedy 12
does not preempt any other remedy or cause of action 13
provided for under any other statute or the common 14
law; prohibiting a person from obtaining a judgment 15
under both the civil remedy and the commo n-law remedy 16
of tortious interference; providing construction; 17
providing an effective date. 18
19
Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida: 20
21
Section 1. Section 68.075, Florida Statutes, is created to 22
read: 23
68.075 Tortious interference with a contract or business 24
relationship; cause of action; damages; attorney fees and 25
CS/HB 313 2022
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F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
costs.— 26
(1) As used in this section, the term: 27
(a) "Business relationship" has the same meaning as in s. 28
825.101. 29
(b) "Person" means an individual, corporation, bus iness 30
trust, estate, trust, partnership, limited liability company, 31
association, joint venture, club, union, organization, any other 32
legal or commercial entity, or any other combination of 33
individuals having collective capacity. 34
(2) It is unlawful for an y person, by inducement, 35
persuasion, misrepresentation, intimidation, or other unjust 36
means, to intentionally and unjustly: 37
(a) Cause the breach or violation of, or the refusal or 38
failure to perform, a lawful contract by any party thereto; or 39
(b) Interfere with or disrupt a business relationship. 40
(3) Any person injured as a result of a violation of this 41
section may bring a civil cause of action for treble damages, 42
injunctive relief, or any other appropriate relief in law or 43
equity. The court may issue a temporary or permanent injunction 44
to prevent a violation of this section. The issuance of an 45
injunction does not affect the availability of damages under 46
this section. The court shall award a prevailing plaintiff 47
reasonable attorney fees and costs. 48
(4) A civil cause of action may not be brought under this 49
section for the enforcement of a contract under s. 542.335. 50
CS/HB 313 2022
CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
hb0313-01-c1
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F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
(5) The civil remedy in this section does not preempt any 51
other remedy or cause of action provided for under any other 52
statute or the common law. Any person may obtain a judgment 53
under either the common -law remedy of tortious interference or 54
the civil remedy in this section but may not obtain a judgment 55
under both remedies. 56
(6) This section does not create a common-law cause of 57
action. 58
Section 2. This act shall take effect July 1, 2022. 59