Ypsilanti v. General Motors

GM (defendant) sought tax abatements from Ypsilanti (plaintiff) for improvements to its Willow Run plant, and at a public meeting its plant manager stated the project would allow continued production and maintained employment; Ypsilanti granted two abatements, forgoing over $2 million in tax revenue. GM later decided to move manufacturing elsewhere, and Ypsilanti sued for breach of contract, promissory estoppel, unjust enrichment, and misrepresentation.

Whether a promise is enforceable when a promisor induces one to take action that is definite and substantial and the only way to avoid injustice is to enforce the promise.