Ricketts v. Scothorn
Supreme Court of Nebraska
77 N.W. 365 (1898)
Relevant factsFree
Katie Scothorn (plaintiff) quit her job as a bookkeeper after her grandfather gave her a promissory note for $2,000 plus 6% interest, telling her he didn't want his grandchildren to work. Neither the note nor his words technically required her to quit, but that was clearly his intent, and she did quit soon after receiving it. Her grandfather paid one year of interest before he died without paying the rest. Scothorn sued Andrew Ricketts (defendant), the executor of her grandfather's estate, for breach of the note.
IssueFree
Whether equitable estoppel can prevent a promisor from revoking an otherwise unenforceable gratuitous promise when the promisee foreseeably and reasonably relied on it to her detriment.