Common Law; “How do the equitable principles pertaining to estoppel ‘soften and modify’ injustices at common law?”

 

Meagher, Gummow and Lehane famously described the role of equity thus: Equity ‘corrected, supplemented and amended the common law. It softened and modified many of the injustices at common law, and provided remedies where, at law, they were either inadequate or non-existent.’ ( R Meagher, D Heydon and M Leeming, Meagher, Gummow and Lehane’s Equity: Doctrines and Remedies (ButterworthsLexisNexis, 4th ed, 2002), 3, para 1-005)
Firstly, describe in detail the way that equity fulfils this objective in the context of estoppel. In other words, how do the equitable principles pertaining to estoppel ‘soften and modify’ injustices at common law?
Secondly, evaluate the success of equitable estoppel. In your opinion, is it functioning well?
You should support your analysis by detailed reference to at least four cases.

 

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