Alden v. Vernon Presley
Tennessee Supreme Court
637 S.W.2d 862 (1982)
Relevant factsFree
Elvis Presley promised Alden's mother he would pay off the house debt after she divorced her husband; when Presley died before paying, his estate (defendant) refused responsibility, and Alden's mother settled with her ex-husband by assuming the debt — but then refused to honor that unenforceable settlement herself, suffering no actual loss. She sued Presley's estate on promissory estoppel, and the court of appeals found sufficient forbearance to enforce the promise.
IssueFree
Whether a promisee may enforce a promise under promissory estoppel when her reliance on it was not reasonable and detrimental.