Is promissory estoppel enforceable?
Asked by: Pascale Yost | Last update: February 16, 2026Score: 5/5 (39 votes)
Yes, promissory estoppel is enforceable, allowing a promise to be legally binding even without formal contract consideration if someone reasonably relied on that promise to their detriment, and enforcing it is necessary to prevent injustice. It acts as an exception to strict contract rules, holding a promisor accountable when their clear promise leads the promisee to take substantial action (or refrain from action) that would cause harm if the promise were broken.
When can promissory estoppel not be used?
“No contractual or promissory estoppel "liability may be assessed against [a state agency]" if the contract or promises were not "statutorily or constitutionally authorized” US Ecology, Inc. v. State of California(2005) 129 Cal. App.
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 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 ...
Promissory Estoppel Crash Course by Attorney Steve
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 damages are recoverable in a case of promissory estoppel?
Damages in a promissory estoppel case are usually equal to the amount of money lost due to the employee's reliance on the employer's promise, including those arising directly from the breach as well as those that are the consequences of special circumstances known by, or reasonably supposed to have been contemplated by ...
How to argue promissory estoppel?
One core strategy for defending against promissory estoppel is emphasizing that there was a formal contract between the parties, so the claim for promissory estoppel cannot go forward. Providing the contract or providing evidence about the contract's existence would both support this defense.
What is the statute of limitations on promissory estoppel?
Proof of Promissory Estoppel
Courts will often also ask whether it would be unjust not to enforce the promise between the parties. Like many contracts, there is a four year statute of limitations to bring an action for promissory estoppel.
What is the rule of estoppel in simple words?
Estoppel is a judicial device whereby a court may prevent or "estop" a person from making assertions or from going back on their word. The person barred from doing so is said to be "estopped". Estoppel may prevent someone from bringing a particular claim.
What is the Supreme court Judgement on estoppel?
In Gopal Prasad Sinha v. State of Bihar18, the Supreme Court of India clarified the foundational principle of issue estoppel. The Court held that for issue estoppel to apply, the same issue of fact and law must have been conclusively determined in a prior litigation.
What are some famous estoppel cases?
Cases - Collateral estoppel or res judicata
- Dupree v. Younger. ...
- Federated Department Stores, Inc. v. ...
- Ford v. Ford. ...
- Lance v. Dennis. ...
- Lucky Brand Dungarees Inc. v. ...
- Parklane Hosiery Company, Inc. v. ...
- Semtek International, Inc. v. ...
- Taylor v. Sturgell.
What is detrimental reliance in law?
Detrimental reliance refers to a legal concept in contract law where one party suffers harm or incurs a loss as a result of relying on the promises or representations made by another party.
Is there a time limit for estoppel?
When can I make a proprietary estoppel claim? There is no strict time limit in which a claim must be made but a claimant should not unduly delay bringing a claim as any unreasonable delay may lead to the court's refusal to grant a favourable order.
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.
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 are the four requirements for promissory estoppel?
Requirements of a Promissory Estoppel
- Promisor made a significant promise to cause the promisee to act on it. ...
- Promisee relied on the promise. ...
- Promisee suffered significant damage by relying on the promise. ...
- Fulfillment of the promise is the only way the promisee can be compensated.
What voids a promissory note?
A promissory note becomes invalid if it lacks essential elements like clear terms (amount, schedule, parties) or signatures (especially the borrower's), contains illegal clauses, involves fraud or duress, lacks "consideration" (exchange of value), or if terms are altered without mutual consent, making it unenforceable in court. Key invalidating factors include missing signatures, ambiguity, unlawful interest rates, lack of legal capacity, or changes made without agreement.
Can I be sued for a 20 year old credit card debt?
Debt collectors may not be able to sue you to collect on old (time-barred) debts, but they may still try to collect on those debts. In California, there is generally a four-year limit for filing a lawsuit to collect a debt based on a written agreement.
What damages are awarded 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 are the three equitable remedies?
There are three types of equitable remedies: specific performance, injunction, and restitution.
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 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 is the legal term for a broken promise?
Broken promises (Promissory Estoppel)
What is the reliance damages law?
Reliance damages refer to the monetary compensation awarded to a party (promisee) that suffered damages from relying on a reasonable promise of the other party (promisor) that broke the promise. The concept of reliance damages is mostly used in contract law.