estoppel

American  

[e-stop-uhl] / ɛˈstɒp əl /

noun

Law.

1. a bar or impediment preventing a party from asserting a fact or a claim inconsistent with a position that party previously took, either by conduct or words, especially where a representation has been relied or acted upon by others.

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estoppel British  

/ ɪˈstɒpəl /

noun

1. law a rule of evidence whereby a person is precluded from denying the truth of a statement of facts he has previously asserted See also conclusion

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Etymology

Origin of estoppel

First recorded in 1575–85, estoppel is from the Middle French word estoupail stopper. See estop, -al ²

Example Sentences

As a result, future litigants can — and likely will, armed with collateral estoppel — argue that the federal government is precluded from denying citizenship on that basis again.

From Salon

That became the basis for their defense, known as entrapment by estoppel, in which a defendant essentially argues that he broke the law based on bad advice from a government official.

From Los Angeles Times

The Colorado Supreme Court’s voluntary stay of its judgment may be a relevant factor in how another state’s courts may decide to apply the doctrine of collateral estoppel.

From Salon

Zamora’s lawyers also accuse the prosecution of violating the doctrine of judicial estoppel, which prevents lawyers from taking positions directly inconsistent from their prior claims.

From Seattle Times

They inevitably lead to mountains of dense legal documents with stultifying terms like “collateral estoppel” and “implied warranty of merchantability.”

From New York Times