What is the doctrine of equitable estoppel in contract law?

The doctrine of equitable estoppel in contract law are specific rules that ensure fairness between two parties involved in a contract. It is a rule that prevents one party from enforcing a legal right if it would be unfair for them to do so. In the state of Washington, equitable estoppel prevents one party from taking advantage of the other party by going back on a promise, representation, or agreement made during the transaction. It also prevents a party from denying facts or circumstances that would be necessary to prove one’s legal rights. For example, if Party A promised Party B that they would follow through with the terms of the contract, but then later tried to back out of their obligation, Party B may be able to enforce the doctrine of equitable estoppel and hold Party A to their promise. Similarly, if Party A claimed during the contract negotiation that a certain fact was true when in reality it was false, equitable estoppel could be used to prove that the fact was actually false. The doctrine of equitable estoppel is an important element of contract law because it helps protect parties from unfairness and misrepresentation in business transactions. As a result, when entering into any kind of contract, it is important to ensure that all parties involved understand the terms of the agreement and that any promises made are accurate and enforceable.

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