Case Name: Alaska Democratic Party v. Rice
Citation: 934 P.2d 1313 (1997)
Plaintiff/Appellee: Kathleen Rice
Defendant/Appellant: Greg Wakefield and Alaska Democratic Party
Issue: Whether the doctrine of promissory estoppel can be invoked to enforce an oral contract that falls within the Statute of Frauds.
Key Facts: Ms. Rice contended that Mr. Wakefield (the chair-elect of the Alaska Democratic Party) offered her a two-year position as executive director of the party. Because of this offer she quit her current employment and moved from Maryland to Alaska.
No written contract was entered into between Rice and the defendants.
Rice brought two claims: (1) promissory estoppel and (2) misrepresentation
Procedural Posture: The jury awarded a total of $30,422 ($28,864 on her promissory estoppel claim and $1,558 on her misrepresentation claim)
Reasoning: “The purpose of the Statute of Frauds is to prevent fraud by requiring that certain categories of contracts be reduced to writing. However, it is not intended as an escape route for persons seeking to avoid obligations undertaken by or imposed upon them.”
Judgment: The court affirmed the claims but reduced the recovery to $28,864 – the amount that represents only lost wages and benefits.