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32 votes
32 votes
The father of a young child whose life was saved by doctors at a hospital emergency room called the president of the hospital and told her that he will donate $50,000 to the hospital, payable in 90 days, in consideration of the doctors' saving his child's life. The president recognized the father's name as a wealthy philanthropist who had donated generously to other worthy causes, and accepted the offer. The president promptly informed the hospital's board of directors of the father's offer and her acceptance of the offer. The board approved the purchase of a new respirator for $50,000 and authorized the president to enter into a written contract with a medical devices company to make the purchase, which she did. Once the child recovered, the father changed his mind and refused to give the hospital the $50,000. If the hospital sues the father, what would the hospital's best theory be to recover the $50,000

User Bruno Mazzardo
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1 Answer

16 votes
16 votes

Answer:

promissory estoppel

Step-by-step explanation:

Common law recognizes promissory estoppel as an enforceable promise. In order for promissory estoppel to be enforceable, it must comply with the following:

  1. The promisee (the hospital) must have believed that the promise was real.
  2. The promisor (the father) must be a person capable of carrying out the promise.
  3. The promisee must have acted assuming that the promise was true (purchased the respirator).
User Kourosh
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