Also known as: reasonably rely · reasonably relied · justifiable reliance
Written by attorneys · grounded in primary & secondary sources — see below
A party's change of position in response to another's statement or conduct that a prudent person would make under the circumstances. The reliance must be both actual and objectively justified to trigger legal consequences such as enforcement of an otherwise defective promise or admission of otherwise inadmissible evidence.
Select any source to read its text and confirm it supports the definition.
Ronald Reed, a forensic accountant, reviewed bank records and hearsay statements from third parties to form an opinion on a company's solvency. The trial court admitted the opinion because experts in accounting routinely rely on such data even when the underlying statements would be inadmissible. The jury evaluated the opinion after the proponent showed the data's probative value outweighed prejudice.
Rajesh Rao, owner of the servient parcel, built a permanent structure blocking the path after observing the easement holder plant trees and install fencing consistent with abandonment. The easement holder had changed position by investing in those improvements. The court held the easement extinguished because the servient owner's action was taken in reasonable reliance on the easement holder's conduct.
Ryan Roberts orally agreed to sell riverfront acreage to Rina Rahman and allowed her to begin constructing a residence on the parcel. Rahman spent substantial sums on the foundation and utilities in reliance on the continuing assent of Roberts. The court ordered specific performance because Rahman's change of position made enforcement necessary to avoid injustice.
Riverfront Developments permitted Rowan Russell to install a private road across its land for access to a new subdivision. Russell spent over two hundred thousand dollars paving the road and connecting utilities after the developer remained silent about revocation. The court imposed a servitude because Russell substantially changed position in reasonable reliance on the permission continuing.
Officers obtained a search warrant that contained a clerical error in the address caused by the issuing judge. They executed the warrant in good faith, believing it valid on its face. The evidence seized was admitted because the officers' reliance on the warrant was objectively reasonable despite the defect.
Riverstone Manufacturing's safety officer negligently told Renee Rogers that a chemical vat was empty when it still contained hazardous material. Rogers entered the vat in reliance on the statement and suffered severe burns. The company was held liable for the physical harm that resulted from her reasonable reliance on the false information.
Reliance is reasonable when a prudent person in the same position would have acted on the statement or conduct without further inquiry. Courts examine whether the relying party had notice of contrary facts, the clarity of the representation, and the magnitude of the change in position. Ambiguous statements or obvious red flags can render reliance unreasonable as a matter of law.
Yes. Under the doctrine of promissory estoppel, a party who changes position in reasonable reliance on an oral promise to transfer land may obtain specific performance even though the statute of frauds is not satisfied. The change of position must be substantial and the injustice must be avoidable only by enforcement.
…principles? Each expert proffered by the plaintiffs assures us that he has "utiliz[ed] the type of data that is generally and reasonably relied upon by scientists" in the relevant field, see, e.g., Newman Aff. at 5, and that he has "utilized the methods and methodology that would generally and reasonably be accepted" by people who…
…appropriate line between presumptively minor damage and damage requiring disclosure to purchasers. For this purpose, BMW could reasonably rely
…rule should be modified so as not to bar the use in the prosecution’s case-in-chief of evidence obtained by officers acting in reasonable reliance on a search warrant issued by a detached and neutral magistrate but ultimately found to be unsupported by probable cause. (a) The exclusionary rule is a judicially created remedy designed…
…to permit the State to penalize action taken while the injunction was in effect. In the past, this Court has recognized that reasonable reliance on judicial pronouncements may constitute a valid defense to criminal prosecution. See, e. g. , Marks v. United States , 430 U. S. 188 (1977).[^maj-31] In addition to arguing that the…
…is a matter on which judges tend to have ‘sound . . . instinct[s],’ . . . and familiar considerations of fair notice, reasonable reliance
Officers who execute a warrant that is later found defective may still introduce the evidence if their reliance on the warrant was objectively reasonable. The exception applies when the defect is attributable to the issuing judge rather than police misconduct and the warrant is not facially deficient.
Yes. When an owner permits use of land under circumstances making it foreseeable that the user will substantially change position believing the permission is irrevocable, and the user does so change position, a servitude arises by estoppel. The user's investment in improvements is the typical change of position that triggers the doctrine.