Ham Marine, Inc. v. Dresser Industries, Inc.

Dresser-Rand Company (“Dresser”) appeals from a jury verdict awarding Ham Marine, Inc. (“Ham”) in excess of $3.7 million for breach of contract and tortious interfer ence with existing or anticipated contracts between Ham and Cliffs Drilling Company (“Cliffs”). We affirm in part, reverse in part, and remand.

I. BACKGROUND

A. Facts

Dresser, a New York partnership, entered into a contract with Maraven S.A. to compress and reinject natural gas into Maraven’s oil wells at Lake Maricaibo, Venezuela in order to increase oil production. In April 1991, Cliffs signed on to the project as a subcontractor…