Sasha, the owner of Mucho Munchies, Inc. a Midwestern restaurant chain, told Erin, a manager in the Columbus restaurant, that whenever the regional manager’s position for Ohio became vacant, Erin would be promoted to the position at whatever the regional manager’s salary is at the time. A month later, Erin turned down an offer from a competitor to be the regional manager of one of its regions. A year later, the regional manager’s position became vacant, but Sasha promoted Jan to the job. Under these circumstances.

Question

Sasha, the owner of Mucho Munchies, Inc. a Midwestern restaurant chain, told Erin, a manager in the Columbus restaurant, that whenever the regional manager’s position for Ohio became vacant, Erin would be promoted to the position at whatever the regional manager’s salary is at the time.  A month later, Erin turned down an offer from a competitor to be the regional manager of one of its regions. A year later, the regional manager’s position became vacant, but Sasha promoted Jan to the job.  Under these circumstances.

BlackTom AI · Accepted Answer

Starting with the overarching idea, this scenario hinges on whether the promise induced reliance that would be unjust to ignore. 
Option 1: Erin can successfully sue Sasha for breach of contract. A contract generally requires an offer, acceptance, and consideration. Here, while Sasha made a promise about promotion and salary, there is no evidence of a binding contract formed with consideration or a definite agreement for a future employment arrangement. The absence of a bargained-for exchange makes a traditional contract unlikely. 
Option 2: Erin can successfully sue Sasha for breach of moral obligation. Courts do not typically recognize breach of moral obligation as a legally enforceable claim; moral obligations are matters of personal ethics and do not create legal rights or remedies. Thus, this theory fails as a basis for relief. 
Option 3: Erin can successfully sue Sasha in a cause of action alleging promissory estoppel. This option addresses: (a) a promise that induces reliance, (b) reliance that is reasonable and foreseeable, and (c) injustice prevented only by enforcing the promise. Erin trusted Sasha’s promise not to promote anyone else while a vacancy existed, declined a competitor offer, and thereby faced detriment when the vacancy later went to Jan. Those elements align with promissory estoppel. 
Option 4: Erin can successfully sue Sasha in quasi-contract. Quasi-contract implies a duty to pay or compensate to prevent unjust enrichment when no actual contract exists. However, this doctrine typically requires a situation where one party is unjustly enriched at another’s expense due to mere enrichment, not a reliance-based promise. Since Erin’s claim arises from reliance on a specific promise to promote, not from unjust enrichment after a benefit conferred without consent, this route is less appropriate here. 
Overall, the most fitting theory is promissory estoppel because it directly addresses reliance on a promise and avoidance of an injustice, whereas the other theories either require a contract, moral considerations, or unjust enrichment that doesn’t fit the facts.

BUSFIN 3500 AU2025 (2111) Chapter 5 Quiz

View Explanation

Log in for full answers

Similar Questions

Which one of the following is NOT true?

Which one of the following is NOT true?

Which one of the following is NOT true?

Which one of the following is NOT true?

Which one of the following is NOT true?

To make a case of wrongful discharge based on promissory estoppel, a former employee must show: BlackTom题目解析

Jens owes JC Builders $5000. On discovering that JC Builders are in financial difficulty Jens offers to pay them $3,000 in full settlement of the debt. JC Builders agree to accept the $3,000 but a week later, claim the remaining $2,000. Will JC Builders succeed in their claim?

More Practical Tools for International Students

Exam Browser Assistant

Stylized Writing Assistant

Plagiarism Checker Assistant

Citation Assistant

In-Class Translation Assistant

Class Notes Assistant

Quiz Search Assistant

Past Exam Questions by School

Smart Practice Assistant

Adaptive Practice

Making Your Study Simpler