Facts
Mr and Mrs Combe were a married couple. Mr Combe promised Mrs Combe that he would pay her an annual maintenance. Their marriage eventually fell apart and they were divorced. Mr Combe refused to pay any of the maintenance he had promised. Seven years later Ms Combe brought an action against Mr Combe to have the promise enforced. There was no consideration in exchange for the promise and so no contract was formed. Instead, she argued promissory estoppel as she had acted on the promise to her own detriment.
At first instance the Court agreed with Mrs Combe and enforced the promise under promissory estoppel. However this decision was then appealed.
Read more about this topic: Combe V Combe
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“Some facts should be suppressed, or, at least, a just sense of proportion should be observed in treating them.”
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