Question

Your firm has been wanting to hire another engineer for some time, and your supervisor has just made an offer to someone from out of state. The hiree is in the process of selling his house, and moving his family to your city. But you are well aware that the economic downturn has sharply curtailed business, and you don’t see how the current level of business can support another engineer. In fact, you are all a little concerned about layoffs. You know that your supervisor also knows all of this, but he has told you that he won’t withdraw the offer until he absolutely has to. By that time, the hiree may well have sold his home and moved his family, but have no new job with your firm. If the offer is withdrawn under these circumstances, and the hiree sues, which causes of action, if any, might be successful?

Answer 1

Answer:

The answer is - Promissory estoppel and Fraud

Explanation:

The cause of action that might be useful in the scenario is the promissory estoppel and fraud. The Promissory Estoppel is a judicial doctrine in contract law in which the court prevents or "estop" a person from going back on their word and therefore allows the affected person recover on the promise or contract which he relied on and due to which he suffered a loss.

Fraud is an act of deceiving others by intentionally using false or misleading information for one's gain and therefore depriving the other person of money or property.

The hiree can therefore sue the firm or supervisor with the use of promissory estoppel and fraud as a cause of action.