In a published decision, the New Jersey Appellate Division held that a trial court properly awarded an information technology firm attorney fees as damages for a law firm’s tortious interference with contractual relations, finding the award fit within an exception to the so-called American Rule.

Accounteks Consulting, a technology consulting firm, brought multiple claims against CKR Law and a former employee, Christian Montes. Accounteks alleged that Montes breached his noncompete agreement with the company when he took a job working for the law firm, a longtime client. The technology firm further alleged that the law firm tortiously interfered with the noncompete agreement between Accounteks and Montes, according to the opinion.