New Hampshire
How Drennan V Star Paving applies in New Hampshire: state-specific rules, key cases, and bar exam notes for Other.
New Hampshire law adopts a similar doctrine of promissory estoppel found in Drennan v. Star Paving. The state recognizes that a promise can be enforceable even without consideration when one party relies on it to their detriment.
In New Hampshire, a promise is enforceable if the promisor should reasonably expect the promise to induce action or forbearance on the part of the promisee, and the promise does induce such reliance.
The New Hampshire Supreme Court applied promissory estoppel, allowing a plaintiff to recover damages based on detrimental reliance on a promise despite the lack of an enforceable contract.
This case underscored that reliance must be reasonable and foreseeable for estoppel to apply in contract disputes.
The court held that an offer can create an enforceable promise if one party takes action in reliance on that offer.
New Hampshire's application of promissory estoppel reflects the federal standard but may emphasize state-specific factual patterns, particularly in evaluating whether reliance was reasonable. Both jurisdictions require a promise, reliance, and detriment, but New Hampshire may allow for broader interpretations in specific contexts.
Promissory estoppel principles as articulated in Drennan v. Star Paving are relevant to the New Hampshire bar exam, particularly in contracts and torts sections, as they often test on reliance and enforceability of non-formal agreements.