Gonsalves v. Nissan Motor Corp. in Hawai'i, Ltd.

Opinion of

In the main,1 I respectfully disagree with the majority’s promissory estoppel analysis for the reasons following. First, I believe the “manifestation of [Defendants’] intent” in the promises made by them to Gonsalves must be viewed using an objective standard. Hence, the statements only, rather than an interpretation of the subjective intent of Wayne Suehisa, the Vice President and Treasurer of Nissan and the Treasurer of Infiniti, in making the statements, are controlling. Ordinarily, the nature of the promises, and whether those statements were sufficient to create an enforceable…