judicial estoppel

Judicial estoppel is a legal principle that prevents someone from making inconsistent claims in court. If a person takes a position in a legal case and that position is accepted by the court, they can't later change their story to something contradictory to gain an unfair advantage or manipulate the process. This rule helps maintain honesty and consistency in legal proceedings, ensuring that parties stick to their initial positions and don’t undermine the integrity of the judicial system.