Legal Definitions - estop

Definition: To estop means to prevent a party from asserting a claim, right, or argument. This is done through the process of estoppel, which is used by courts to prevent parties from making certain claims.

In contract law, promissory estoppel is used to prevent a party from claiming that no contract exists when another party has relied on a promise made by the first party. For example, if a company promises to pay an employee a certain amount of money, and the employee relies on that promise to make financial decisions, the company cannot later claim that no contract existed.

In civil and criminal law, collateral estoppel is used to prevent parties from re-litigating issues that have already been decided. For example, if a person is found not guilty of a crime, they cannot be tried again for the same crime based on the same evidence.

These examples illustrate how estoppel is used to prevent parties from making certain claims or arguments. It is a way to ensure fairness and prevent parties from taking advantage of others.