- June 10, 2021
- Court Decisions (Appeals, Judicial Reviews)
Local 118 claimed damages against local 1928 of the United Brotherhood of Carpenters for inducement of breach of contract and interference with contractual relations. The contract at issue was between local 118 and Exhibit Installation Services Inc. and involved the set up of display booths at B.C. Place Stadium. The Carpenters’ President believed that the work was within its jurisdiction made certain objections, including a statement that “there would be war” if the work was done by local 118. The Court held that there was no inducement of breach of contract since the evidence showed there had been no actual breach of local 118’s contract with Exhibit Installation Services Inc. There was no interference with contractual relations since local 118 had failed to established that the Carpenters had acted unlawfully; in particular, there was no evidence of threats, menacing behavior, job action at the work site, interference with local 118 reporting for work or any other action of the part of the Carpenters. The statement “there would be war” could be interpreted as a legitimate threat to enforce contractual rights.