Final answer:
Joseph can sue Ralph for breach of contract under the doctrine of promissory estoppel, as Joseph made expenditures based on Ralph's promise which was not honored, causing Joseph to incur losses.
Step-by-step explanation:
A student's question involves a scenario where Joseph was promised payment by Ralph to paint Ralph's house, but Ralph put up a fence around the house making it impossible for Joseph to do the work. When Joseph shows up ready to work, he finds that he's unable to fulfill the contract due to Ralph's actions.
Joseph can potentially file a lawsuit against Ralph for a breach of contract under the doctrine of promissory estoppel, which protects a party who reasonably relied on a promise and made expenditures or suffered a loss as a result of that reliance. Joseph's purchase of paint and supplies demonstrates reliance on the promise that he would be able to paint the house. If Joseph is prevented from performing the work promised and has incurred expenses, he may be able to recover those losses.