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estoppel

Estoppel is a legal principle that prevents a person or entity from asserting a legal right or taking a legal position that contradicts or is inconsistent with its earlier position, behavior, or agreement. The person or entity is said to be “estopped” from changing its position, behavior, or agreement because another person or entity has relied on its earlier position, behavior, or agreement (detrimental reliance).

In New York, estoppel is a legal doctrine that is applied to prevent a party from adopting a position, argument, or course of action that contradicts its previous statements or behaviors if such a contradiction would unjustly harm another party who relied on the original position. This principle is often invoked in various areas of law, including contract disputes, property law, and employment cases, among others. The key elements of estoppel in New York include a representation or concealment of material facts, reasonable reliance by the party seeking estoppel, and a change of position to their detriment based on that reliance. Estoppel can take various forms, such as promissory estoppel, equitable estoppel, and estoppel by deed, each with specific applications and requirements. The purpose of estoppel is to uphold fairness and integrity in legal proceedings by preventing parties from benefiting from their own inconsistencies when others have relied on their initial stance to their disadvantage.

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Civil litigation

estoppel

Individual & Family Legal Plan

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New-York State Code

Civil litigation

estoppel

Articles