Proposed Mississippi Plain Language Model Jury Instructions - Civil 721

Statement of Law

If a [person/business/corporation] has a legitimate [excuse/justification/reason] for

interfering with a contract, then that [person/business/corporation] is not legally responsible for

damages suffered as a result of the interference.

General Instruction

[Name of defendant] claims that [he/she/it] had a legitimate justification or reason for

interfering with the contract between [name of plaintiff] and [name of other contracting party]

and that [name of defendant] is not legally responsible for [name of plaintiff]’s damages. To

establish this claim, [name of defendant] must prove all of the following are more likely true than

not true:

1. [Name of plaintiff] and [name of other contracting party] entered into a valid and enforceable

contract to _____________________ [describe the subject matter of the contract];

2. [Name of defendant] did _______________________________ [describe defendant’s actions

which allegedly interfered with the contract];

3A. [Name of defendant] was justified in acting in a way which interfered with the contract

because _______________________________ [describe the reason the defendant was justified];

OR

3B. [Name of defendant] had a legitimate excuse or reason in acting in a way which interfered

with the contract because _______________________________ [describe the reason the

defendant was excused].

Verdict Form

We answer the questions submitted to us as follows:

1. Did [name of plaintiff] and [name of other contracting party] enter into a valid and enforceable

contract to _____________________ [describe the subject matter of the contract]?

YES _______ NO ________

If your answer to question 1 is YES, then answer question 2. If you answered NO, stop

here and tell the bailiff.

2. Did [name of defendant] _______________________________ [describe defendant’s actions

which allegedly interfered with the contract]?

YES _______ NO ________

If your answer to question 2 is YES, then answer question 3. If you answered NO, stop

here and tell the bailiff.

3A. Was [name of defendant] justified in acting in a way which interfered with the contract

because _______________________________ [describe the reason the defendant was justified]?

OR

3B. Did [name of defendant] have a legitimate excuse or reason in acting in a way which

interfered with the contract because _______________________________ [describe the reason

the defendant was excused]?

YES _______ NO ________

If your answers to questions 1-3 are YES, then you must find in favor of [name of

defendant] on [his/her/its] claim that [he/she/it] had a legitimate justification or excuse for

interfering with the contract between [name of plaintiff] and [name of other contracting party].

After you have filled out the verdict form, please tell the bailiff that you have reached a verdict.