The Tennessee Court of Appeals issued a new opinion, Preston McNees Specialty Woodworking, Inc. v. The Daniel Co., Inc., on February 13, 2015, which I’m citing here because it includes a good review of the law of equitable estoppel.
In the case, a subcontractor alleged that a general contractor was equitably estopped from denying payment of various change orders, when the general contractor waiting until the work was completed to provide notice that the extra charges would be denied.
The Court held that doctrine of equitable estoppel requires evidence of the following elements with respect to the party against whom estoppel is asserted:
- Conduct which amounts to a false representation or concealment of material facts, or, at least, which is calculated to convey the impression that the facts are otherwise than, and inconsistent with, those which the party subsequently attempts to assert;
- Intention, or at least expectation that such conduct shall be acted upon by the other party; and
- Knowledge, actual or constructive of the real facts.
Consumer Credit Union v. Hite, 801 S.W.2d 822, 825 (Tenn. Ct. App. 1990).
Additionally, the Court held, equitable estoppel also requires the following elements with respect to the party asserting estoppel:
- Lack of knowledge and of the means of knowledge of the truth as to the facts in question;
- Reliance upon the conduct of the party estopped; and
- Action based thereon of such a character as to change his position prejudicially.
This is a great review of the law, as this issues comes up. Ultimately, this Court ruled that there was no reliance because the contract at issue was clear.
Creditors Rights 101 