Opinion ID: 677570
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 5

Heading: The state law claim for breach of an oral promise

Text: 40 Cash Flow alleges that in June 1986 when the pool of gasoline was discovered, William Knight from Unocal promised on behalf of Unocal to clean up the contamination. The district court granted summary judgment to Unocal, holding that, even if made, the statement might have been in reference to a perceived obligation incurred under the original lease, and was thus barred by the statute of limitations. See O.R.S. Sec. 12.080 (statute of limitations for breach of contract). This conclusion is not challenged by Cash Flow on appeal. 41 Alternatively, the district court held that it was an independent promise which failed for lack of consideration, or was barred under the statute of frauds. Cash Flow maintains that the consideration was plaintiff's promise to forebear suing Unocal in exchange for Unocal's promise to remediate the problem. However, Cash Flow did not demonstrate a genuine issue of material fact that it had indeed bargained with Unocal on this point, and we affirm the grant of summary judgment. 42 AFFIRMED IN PART, REVERSED IN PART, and REMANDED FOR PROCEEDINGS CONSISTENT WITH THIS DISPOSITION. EACH PARTY TO BEAR ITS OWN COSTS ON APPEAL.