Feinberg v. Pfeiffer Co.
Missouri Court of Appeals
322 S.W.2d 163 (1959)
Relevant factsFree
Feinberg (plaintiff) worked for Pfeiffer Co. (defendant) for 39 years. To thank her, Pfeiffer's board raised her salary and promised her $200 per month for life after she retired, without requiring anything further from her in exchange. Feinberg worked two more years, then retired and began collecting the pension. After Pfeiffer's president died, his successors viewed the payments as an unnecessary gift and cut them to $100 per month. Feinberg sued to enforce the original promise, and the trial court ruled for her.
IssueFree
Whether a gratuitous and otherwise unenforceable promise becomes a binding contract when the promisee reasonably and detrimentally relies on it.