estoppel in equity

Estoppel in equity is a legal principle that prevents someone from acting in a way that contradicts what they previously established as true, especially if others relied on that truth to their detriment. For example, if a person makes a promise or behaves consistently in a certain way, and someone relies on that behavior to make decisions, the first person may be "estopped" from denying their promise or changing their behavior, even if there was no formal contract. This principle helps ensure fairness and prevents unjust outcomes in legal matters.