Mooney v. Johnson Cattle Co., Inc.

*711LINDE, J.

Plaintiff and defendants are cattle buyers. When plaintiff contracted to buy 550 head of steers from a third person for immediate resale, defendants caused the seller to breach this contract by buying the same cattle at a higher price, leaving plaintiff for a time unable to deliver cattle to his buyer. Plaintiff brought action for interference with his purchase contract, seeking damages for loss of reputation and for mental anguish suffered as “a direct and proximate result” of defendant’s interference, as well as punitive damages. A jury awarded plaintiff $6,500 damages for mental…