What is the primary purpose of promissory estoppel?

The primary purpose of promissory estoppel is to enforce a promise in situations where a formal contract may not exist or where one party has not provided consideration in the traditional sense. Promissory estoppel allows a party to recover on a promise, even if a contract does not formally exist, if they have relied on that promise to their detriment. This legal doctrine is particularly important in cases where one party has made a promise that another party has relied upon, leading to a significant change in position or loss.

In situations where enforcing a promise is necessary to avoid injustice, promissory estoppel fills the gap by providing a remedy, thereby upholding the commitment made by the promisor, even in the absence of a legally binding contract. This ensures fairness and holds parties accountable for their promises when others have acted based on those promises.