Contract Law-Old Exam Question Forum

[ellewannabe]

Can anyone help with this? I'm stumped...

Under what circumstances, if any, should estoppel overcome the assertion of a statute of frauds defense? In answering the question, you might consider why many states continue to follow the approach of the First Restatement of Contracts rather than that of the Second Restatement.

Thanks!

[sinfiery]

Statute of frauds purpose is to prevent fraudulent claims of obligations arising from unprovable oral agreements. Check the context of the bargain (Too easy in employment law to allege something then rely upon it). Quantum Meruit/Equitable Estoppel will provide a potential remedy for any mistakes rendered if there is no promissory estoppel.

So I would allow PE to overcome the statute of frauds when the balancing test of quantum meruit does not provide enough of a remedy to the injured party whilst the risk of fraud in the specific case isn't likely to be extraordinarily high or easy to abuse


My teacher didn't really go over it but this was my general sense of the conflict

[PepperJack]

We didn't learn the restatement in my class LOL.

But this is going to be a back and forth about what's equitable. If one gives value, works on the property, etc.