Viewed in the light most favorable to the verdict, the record contains no affirmative evidence that Saatzer intended not to hire Nuetzel to manage Della Robbia when he stated he would. On the contrary, the evidence indisputably supports the conclusion that up until the time Nuetzel rejected Saatzer s offer by telling him he had decided to go with IPC, Saatzer had every intention to hire him to manage Della Robbia. Nuetzel admitted telling Saatzer in September or October that he viewed IPC as a great business opportunity and had decided to work for it rather than go with Saatzer to Della Robbia. Nuetzel s expectation that Saatzer's offer would remain open indefinitely has no legal or factual basis. II Saatzer also claims the evidence does not support a finding that Nuetzel reasonably relied on Saatzer s representations to his detriment.
Reasonable reliance is a subjective standard.
To determine if a person s reliance is reasonable, the factfinder must consider not what a reasonable person would do under similar circumstances, but what a comparable person reasonably could be expected to do. A court or jury may infer reliance from plaintiff's conduct and the surrounding circumstances. The record supports a finding that, in deciding to relocate, Nuetzel may have relied on Saatzer s representation that Jensen intended to hire him. It does not, however, support a finding that Nuetzel s reliance was reasonable. Despite Saatzer s representations, Nuetzel knew or should have known that Jensen was not legally obligated to hire him and, therefore, that there was no guaranty that Jensen would hire him.