Walters v. Marathon Oil Co.

Walters (plaintiff) invested significant time and money, including purchasing and improving property, in reliance on negotiations with Marathon Oil (defendant) to establish a franchise, only for Marathon to impose a moratorium on new franchise applications and refuse to sign the final agreement after receiving Walters's completed proposal; the trial court found Walters entitled to relief under promissory estoppel and, based on expert testimony about anticipated first-year fuel sales, awarded $22,000 in lost profits. Marathon appealed, arguing a promissory estoppel recovery could not include anticipated lost profits.