Wilkinson v. Powe

Wilkinson (plaintiff) held written contracts with dairy farmers to haul their milk to Shamrock Creamery, whose owner Powe (defendant) wanted to take over one of Wilkinson's routes. After Wilkinson refused Powe's buyout offer, Powe sent letters to the farmers stating Shamrock would no longer accept milk delivered by Wilkinson, forcing Wilkinson to abandon his routes, after which Shamrock hauled the milk of nearly all the farmers who had contracted with him. A jury awarded Wilkinson $4,000, but the trial judge granted judgment notwithstanding the verdict, calling the verdict a sympathetic attempt to protect someone who had acted unwisely; Wilkinson appealed.

Whether the right to perform and receive the benefits of a contract is a property right such that damages for unlawfully interfering with it are recoverable.