Can you get expectation damages from promissory estoppel?
Asked by: Miss Clara Kuvalis | Last update: June 9, 2026Score: 4.2/5 (62 votes)
Yes, you can get expectation damages in promissory estoppel cases, but courts usually prefer awarding reliance damages (to restore your pre-promise position) to prevent injustice; expectation damages (putting you in the promised position) are only granted if necessary and when the promise was very clear, otherwise, it might be seen as giving a windfall, with reliance damages (costs incurred) being the more common remedy.
Can you get expectation damages for promissory estoppel?
In a promissory estoppel case, the court in its discretion can award either detrimental reliance damages or expectation damages (including specific performance), whichever it determines better avoids injustice.
What is the promissory estoppel exception?
Promissory estoppel is an exception to the requirement that a contract must have consideration to be enforceable. An offeror is required to perform its promise where it would be unjust not to do so, even though the offeree has not provided consideration.
What are the limitations of promissory estoppel?
Limitation on Promissory Estoppel
There has to be an existing legal relationship between the parties. Must have been (detrimental) reliance on the promise. Cannot be inequitable for promisor to go back on the promise. A "shield not a sword"
What measure of damages have courts applied in promissory estoppel cases?
Courts and commentators have generally taken three approaches to measuring dam- ages in promissory estoppel cases: the reliance measure, the expectancy measure, and a flexible or discretionary approach.
What is Promissory Estoppel? [No. 86]
What is the expectation measure of damages?
The usual measure of damages for breach of contract. It refers to the innocent party's loss of a bargain, such as the profits they would have expected to receive had the contract been performed, less the costs they would have incurred to earn that profit.
Can I sue for promissory estoppel?
A plaintiff bringing a breach of contract claim may plead promissory estoppel in the alternative, along with other equitable claims. Court Opinions. That way, if the court finds no valid contract existed, a plaintiff can still recover under promissory estoppel if the required elements are met.
What defenses exist against promissory estoppel?
Affirmative Defenses that can be asserted against a claim of promissory estoppel include: 1) existence of a contract (express or implied) between the parties; 2) lack of a clear and unequivocal promise; 3) lack of reasonable detrimental reliance; 4) lack of injustice that can only be avoided if the promise is enforced.
What must you prove in a successful promissory estoppel case?
The elements of promissory estoppel include a clear promise, reasonable reliance, and resulting injustice if the promise is not enforced. Legal requirements for promissory estoppel vary by jurisdiction but generally involve the promisor making an assurance that leads to substantial reliance.
What are the three requirements for promissory estoppel?
Promissory Estoppel
- The promisor should reasonably expect to induce action or forbearance from the promisee;
- Such action or forbearance is in fact induced; and.
- Injustice can be avoided only by enforcement of the promise.[
What are the 5 elements of promissory estoppel?
In analyzing the application of section 90, the Washington courts have established five requirements for recovery in promissory estoppel: “(1) a promise which (2) the promisor should reasonably expect to cause the promisee to change position and (3) which does cause the promisee to change position (4) justifiably ...
What is the statute of limitations on promissory estoppel?
One necessary statute, however, is Subsection 95.11(3)(k), which dictates a four-year statute of limitations for promissory estoppel claims.
What three conditions must be met before the principle of promissory estoppel can be applied?
The doctrine of promissory estoppel is invoked in the interests of justice when three conditions are met: (1) the promise is one that the promisor should reasonably expect to induce the promisee to take action or forbear from taking action of a definite and substantial character; (2) the action or forbearance is taken; ...
What is an example of expectation damages?
Therefore, given the market price of oranges, Squeeze Me would have had $9,000 worth of oranges had Sunshine not breached. Taking the $9,000 value of the oranges and subtracting the $5,000 that Squeeze Me would have paid for the oranges, expectation damages will come to $4,000.
Which 5 things must be present for promissory estoppel to operate?
Promissory Estoppel
- The defendant made a clear and unambiguous promise.
- The plaintiff acted in reliance on the defendant's promise.
- The plaintiff's reliance was reasonable and foreseeable.
- The plaintiff suffered an injury due to reliance on the defendant's promise.
Is promissory estoppel fair?
Promissory Estoppel within Contract Law
However, in attempting to ensure justice or fairness, a court may enforce a promise even in the absence of any consideration, provided that the promise was reasonably relied on and that reliance on the promise resulted in a detriment to the promisee.
What must be shown prior to a ruling for promissory estoppel?
The first element of promissory estoppel is that the promise made to the promisee was significant enough and that a reasonable person would ordinarily rely on it. The second element is that the promisee must have acted on the promise made by the promisor, even though it was not supported by consideration.
Does promissory estoppel undermine consideration?
Professor Halson[13] suggests that promissory estoppel cannot give rise to a cause of action in his 'estoppel spectrum' because to do so would undermine the doctrine of consideration.
What are the test for estoppel?
For issue estoppel to be successfully invoked, three preconditions must be met: (1) the issue must be the same as the one decided in the prior decision; (2) the prior judicial decision must have been final; and (3) the parties to both proceedings must be the same, or their privies (Danyluk v.
Is estoppel a claim or defence?
Although estoppel is an equitable remedy, generally thought to be used as a shield rather than a sword – essentially a defence to a claim rather than a claim in itself – it is increasingly common that estoppel will form a claim in its own right.
Can you sue for breach of contract and promissory estoppel?
If one has a breach of contract claim, then you cannot typically file an accompanying promissory estoppel claim. Specifically, promissory estoppel is not available when an unambiguous contract exists that covers the issue for which damages are sought.
What are examples of detrimental reliance?
Real-world examples
Example 1: A contractor begins work on a project after a client verbally promises payment for the services. The contractor incurs costs for materials and labor based on this promise. If the client later refuses to pay, the contractor may claim detrimental reliance to enforce the promise.
Is an estoppel legally binding?
An estoppel certificate is a legally binding document whereby a tenant represents or promises certain things regarding its lease or rental agreement to be true.
What is the statute of limitations for promissory estoppel?
Statute of limitations
The statute of limitation for promissory estoppel in California based on an oral promise is two years.