Render :partial from .js.erb doesn't render on second pass

VIEWS

contacts/new.html.haml

.contact_details
= render :partial => “contacts/details”

contacts/_details.html.haml

%b= regions_in_area(@area) # from contacts_helper.rb sending back
a string according to @area

upon a drop down change , an Ajax request is send to
contacts#change_area action with a new area found :
def change_area
@area = Area.find(params[:id])
render “contacts/change_area.js”
end

and the change_area.js is very simple , replacing the .contact_details
$(’.contact_details’).replaceWith( ‘<%=
escape_javascript(render :partial => “contacts/details”) %>’);

this runs very well on the first drop down change, but on the second
change, even if the @area is changed and also the string from the
helper… the new string is NOT displayed …

what’s wrong in my code ?

thanks for your feedback

[SOLVED] should use .htl() and not .replaceWith()