Tuttle v. Buck
Minnesota Supreme Court
119 N.W. 946 (1909)
Buck (defendant), a wealthy banker with no other connection to the barbering trade, opened a competing barber shop for roughly a year with the specific purpose of drawing customers away from Tuttle's (plaintiff) established, successful shop in order to put Tuttle out of business, causing Tuttle's business to suffer significantly; Tuttle sued, alleging Buck's actions served no legitimate business interest of his own and were undertaken solely to injure Tuttle, and the trial court denied Buck's demurrer to the complaint. Buck appealed.
Whether, when an individual starts a business with a sole intent of causing a malicious and wanton injury and financial loss to a competitor, the wrongdoer may be liable in tort.