미국법상 약속적 금반언에 기한 전계약적 책임

Since parties in entering the contract strongly wish to maximize the possibility of its successful completion, they spent substantial amount of time in negotiation. During this negotiation, a party often might mislead other party to think the contract would be entered although they have not formalized the contract yet. Relying on such appearance, the other party might result in incuring the expense in preparing so that he or she can successfully enter the contract. Under such circumstance, Korean law provides the remedy for the other party based on tort law since there is no contract has been established. On the other hand, the American law classifies the different basis for precontractual liability(unjust enrichment resulting from the negotiations, misrepresentation made during the negotiations, agreement to negotiation in good faith, specific promise made during the negotiations-promissory estoppel). Especially the American case(Hoffman v. Red owl Stores) has found the precontractual liability by ruling that the act of reliance by the promisee to his detriment provided a substitute for consideration and promissory estoppel. furthermore, such promissory estoppel originally was invoked as a substitute for consideration rendering a gratuitous promise enforcible as a contract. However, under Hoffman case, it is not clear when promissory estoppel should be applied. Not only that, the court does not illustrate the extent of damage the court could provide under promissory estoppel. After Hoffman case, there are many different theories relating to promissory estoppel in precontractual liability. Different theories argue whether promissory estoppel is based on torts law or contract law or both or either. However, it seems that which part of civil law that promissory estoppel is based on does not matter if promissory estoppel provides the basis for remedy under precontractual liability. In order to accomplish the above goal we need to come up with more stable and definite formular for its application and damages for the loss.