What legal doctrine prevents a party from claiming a right to the detriment of another party?

The correct answer, Estoppel, is a legal doctrine that prevents a party from asserting a claim or a right in a situation where it would contradict their previous statements, actions, or behavior, particularly when such contradiction would harm another party who reasonably relied on the initial representation. This doctrine is rooted in principles of fairness and justice, ensuring that individuals cannot change their position in a way that would unjustly disadvantage others after those parties have acted based on prior representations.

In the context of surveying and property rights, this principle can be crucial when one party makes a claim based on an assumption or understanding that another party has acted upon, such as the boundaries of a piece of land or agreements made about property use. If one party has led another to believe a certain condition exists and the second party has relied on that belief to their detriment, estoppel can prevent the first party from asserting a conflicting position later on.

The other options do not encapsulate this specific legal principle. An affidavit is a written statement confirmed by oath, typically used as evidence, but it does not inherently prevent claims. An injunction is a court order to prevent a party from an action, but it does not function to bar claims based on previous conduct. Liability refers to legal responsibility and does