Ronald Dwight Kunde v. Estate of Arthur D. Bowman and Diane Engelkins

APPEL, Justice.

In this case, a farmer sued his neighbor's heirs, claiming, among other things, that he and the decedent entered into an option contract to purchase farmland that was subject to a written lease and upon which the farmer made substantial improvements at his expense. In the alternative, the farmer sought to recover under various equitable theories of promissory estoppel, quantum meruit, and unjust enrichment.

A jury found in favor of the plaintiff on his contract claim and awarded damages. After the verdict, however, the district court granted the defendants' motion for a directed…