Chapman Lumber, Inc. v. Clifford L. Tager

Summary

The court held that the plaintiff's fraud, tortious-interference, and conspiracy claims were ripe even though the debtor's bankruptcy proceedings were ongoing, because the plaintiff had already suffered an injury and uncertainty about the exact amount of damages did not defeat justiciability. It also upheld the trial court's refusal to reopen the judgment or conduct an evidentiary hearing because the defendant raised most arguments too late, failed to substantiate alleged fraud, and sought discovery rather than presenting competent proof. The court concluded that the defendant was liable for prejudgment interest as a conspirator but that the trial court improperly offset the jury's undifferentiated damages award by the bankruptcy distribution; it therefore reinstated the original damages award and related interest awards.