Opinion ID: 2219648
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 5

Heading: Estoppel To Claiming Commission

Text: Equitable estoppel as set forth in Century 21 Associated Realty, 503 N.W.2d at 866 requires that [F]alse representations or concealment of material facts must exist, the party to whom it was made must have been without knowledge of the real facts, the representations or concealment must have been with the intention that it should be acted upon, and the party to whom it was made must have relied thereon to his prejudice or injury. There can be no estoppel if any of these essential elements are lacking, or if any of them have not been proved by clear and convincing evidence.... An essential element of equitable estoppel is fraud. There must be some intended deception in the conduct or declaration of the party to be estopped or such gross negligence on his part as to amount to constructive fraud.... Id. (citations omitted). Nothing in the record suggests Kahler committed fraud. He received a letter from Weiss ending his services. After he received the letter, Kahler stopped all advertisements, mailings, telephone contacts, and other dealings with Weiss and Zundel. This is hardly surprising when Weiss effectively fired Kahler. The trial court was correct in determining, as a matter of law, no genuine issue of material fact existed on the claim of equitable estoppel.