Hoffman v. Red Owl Stores Inc.

Facts

The plaintiff owned a bakery and wanted to expand an own a grocery store. Plaintiff contacted defendant and told them that $18,000 was all the capital that he had to invest in a grocery store. He was repeatedly assured that $18,000 would be enough. After three months of operating a small grocery store in preparation for a bigger one, the plaintiff was told that the defendant would try and find a larger store for him elsewhere but he had to sell the smaller store. Again, the plaintiff told the defendant he only had $18,000 to invest in the larger store and he was reassured that the sum was sufficient. The parties met to talk about the plaintiff’s financial standing. The plaintiff was told he would need to contribute $24,000.  And that the loan from his father-in-law that provided part of the investment would have to converted into a gift. Then the plaintiff was told he needed an extra $2,000. The plaintiff told the defendant he could not go along with the proposal and the negotiations terminated between the two parties.