Question

Abel had grown tired of working on the family farm and was considering moving away.However,his parents told him "If you'll stay and help us,we'll leave you the farm when we die." As a result,Abel decided to stay on the farm and worked there for the next twenty years.However,when his parents finally died Abel learned that they had left the farm to his brother,Mark.Abel filed suit against his parents' estate to enforce their promise of leaving him the farm.Which of the following is a true statement?
A) Abel gave no consideration for his parents' promise to leave him the farm,so their promise is not enforceable against the estate.
B) The work that Abel did on the farm before his parents made their promise is sufficient consideration to make their promise enforceable.
C) Abel's parents' promise is not enforceable because it was illusory.
D) Abel's parents' promise is enforceable under a promissory estoppel theory.

Answer 1

Answer:

D) Abel's parents' promise is enforceable under a promissory estoppel theory.

Explanation:

Promissory estoppel refers to a principle of law which states that an informal promise can be enforceable by law if the promise has led the promisee to rely on it, to his subsequent detriment. This would be the case with Abel, as relying on the promise meant he stayed to work at the farm for 20 years. Therefore, Abel's parents' promise is enforceable under United States law.