Question

Patty is a poor college student struggling to work and keep up with her studies. Fred, her uncle, promises to pay Patty support of $200 per month for the next six months. She quits her current job in order to devote full time to her studies for the next six month, obviously really relying on Fred's promise. Fred makes one payment and then stops with no explanation. If Patty sues, what is the likely result?

Answer 1

Answer:

Patty may win based on the doctrine of promissory estoppel.

Explanation:

The doctrine of promissory estoppel is a legal principle that helps enforce a promise, even if it was made without formal consideration. This happens when the person that was promised something and makes a decsion based on this promise that ends badly because the promise was not upheld. In this case, Patty quit her job because she thought her uncle was going to pay her $200 per month. Because her uncle only paid her one out of the six months, she is without $1000 that she was counting on to focus on her studies.