Episode 09: When a Promise is Enough – Promissory Estoppel

Organized: The Business Law Breakdown

In this episode of Mastering Contracts, we explore the doctrine of promissory estoppel, which allows a promise to be enforced even without traditional consideration. We’ll discuss how reliance on a promise can lead to legal obligations and how courts handle situations where one party has taken significant steps in reliance on a promise, only to be left in a difficult position. Using key cases like Ricketts v. Scothorn and Conrad v. Fields, we break down the elements of promissory estoppel and examine when reliance on a promise can make it enforceable. If you’ve ever found yourself relying on a promise that wasn’t part of a formal contract, this episode is for you.