Deft's conduct insufficient as a matter of law to establish tortious interference with contracts, as comments to third parties were not specifically targeted, and any conduct incidental to a lawful purpose cannot be the basis of the claim.
As a matter of law, establishing subsequent breach without a showing of specific causation can't state a claim for tortious interference.
http://www.ca2.uscourts.gov/decisions/isysquery/05194beb-c7ca-4533-89f8-3cdc4043f522/5/doc/17-869_complete_opn.pdf#xml=http://www.ca2.uscourts.gov/decisions/isysquery/05194beb-c7ca-4533-89f8-3cdc4043f522/5/hilite/
Since 2011. An occasional commonplacing of the U.S. Circuit Courts of Appeal.
Neither an authoritative statement of the law nor legal advice. Quick work.