Which of the following is an example of estoppel?

Estoppel is a legal principle that prevents a person from arguing something contrary to a previously established position, especially when it would be unjust to allow them to change their stance. The correct choice exemplifies this concept well. For instance, if an individual has made a claim or taken a position that has led another party to rely on that claim, the individual cannot later assert a contradictory position that harms the other party.

In this particular scenario, if someone previously claimed a certain right, and another switched their reliance based on that claim, the principle of estoppel protects the latter’s interests by preventing the first party from reverting to their earlier claims that would essentially invalidate or undermine the reliance of the other party. This principle serves to uphold fairness and consistency in legal arrangements, ensuring that parties cannot simply backtrack on their assertions to the detriment of others.

The other options presented do not capture the essence of estoppel since they involve standard transactional or operational behaviors—like renting property, adhering to lease agreements, or providing access to contractors—which do not inherently challenge the legal standing or claims of an individual in the same way that estoppel does. Thus, the principle of estoppel is best illustrated by the prevention of individuals from making contradictory claims after others have relied upon their