Hughes v Metropolitan Railway Co

Hughes v Metropolitan Railway Co (1877) is a landmark case in contract law. It involved a contractor, Hughes, who delayed work on a railway project because the Metropolitan Railway Co. promised to extend the deadline. When the company later insisted on the original deadline, Hughes was unprepared and lost the contract. The court ruled that the railway company was estopped (prevented) from claiming Hughes breached the contract because their assurances led him to reasonably believe the deadline was extended. This case highlights the importance of clear communication and reliance on assurances in contractual relationships.