What are the elements of a civil conspiracy claim?

A civil conspiracy claim is a legal claim that is brought when two or more parties intentionally engage in behavior that causes harm to another individual or entity. In Illinois, a civil conspiracy claim requires that the plaintiff prove several elements to be successful. Firstly, the plaintiff must show that there is an agreement between two or more parties to commit an unlawful act. To prove an agreement, the plaintiff must show that the parties had knowledge of the other parties’ intention to commit the unlawful act and that they had willingly agreed to it. Secondly, the plaintiff must prove that the parties to the agreement had an intent to accomplish the unlawful act. This means that the parties had the purpose of causing harm or some other wrongful conduct. Thirdly, the plaintiff must prove that the parties to the agreement acted in concert to commit the tortious act, meaning that they intentionally acted together to achieve the same unlawful end. Fourthly, the plaintiff must show that as a result of the conspiracy, either physical, financial, or emotional harm was suffered. In the context of unfair competition law, that harm may be demonstrated by the loss of market share, a decrease in profits, or a decrease in the value of the business. Finally, the plaintiff must prove that the harm suffered was caused by the unlawful acts of the parties. This means that it was the result of the wrongful acts of the conspirators, rather than something unrelated. In summary, the elements of a civil conspiracy claim in Illinois include: an agreement between two or more parties to commit an unlawful act; an intent to accomplish the unlawful act; an agreement to act in concert to commit the wrongful act; harm suffered as a result of the conspiracy; and causation between the harm suffered and the tortious acts.

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What are the elements of a civil conspiracy claim?

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