Also known as:quasi contract claim · quasi-contract claims · quasi contract claims · quasi-contract · quantum meruit claim
Written by attorneys · grounded in primary & secondary sources — see below
A claim based on a contract implied in law that imposes a duty to pay the reasonable value of benefits received to prevent unjust enrichment. No actual agreement between the parties is required. Recovery is measured by the value of services or goods conferred rather than by any bargained-for expectation.
Sources & Authorities
How it applies
Common Examples
2
Recovery of Preparation Costs After Broken Engagement
Quintina Qualls and Quincy Quan became engaged and signed a written agreement outlining wedding plans and equity division in Quin's startup. Quintina quit her job and incurred moving expenses in reliance on the upcoming marriage. When Quincy called off the wedding after a funding round increased the company's value, Quintina sued for breach of promise to marry. The court permitted recovery of her actual expenditures made in preparation for the marriage under the quasi-contract aspect of the claim.
Payment for Services Without Express Agreement
Quorum Partners hired Quest Capital to perform design work on a construction project without reaching a final price or separate agreement for the design phase alone. Quest Capital completed the designs and sought payment after the relationship ended. The court imposed liability under a quasi-contract theory measured by the reasonable value of the design services performed to prevent unjust enrichment.
Put it into practice
Test Yourself
10
Practice Questions5
· 1 primary source
Select any source to read its text and confirm it supports the definition.
Common Law
Hornbooks
Archon v. U.S. Shelter, LLC78 N.E.3d 1067 (Ill. App. 2017)
Common questions
Frequently Asked
3
What damages are recoverable in a quasi-contract claim?+
Recovery is limited to the reasonable value of the benefit conferred. In the breach-of-promise context described in the source, actual expenditures made in preparation for marriage are recoverable, along with reputational harm, mental anguish, and injury to health, but not expected financial or social benefits from the marriage itself.
Supporting sources
Does a quasi-contract claim require proof of an actual agreement?+
No. The claim arises precisely when no express or implied-in-fact contract exists. A duty is imposed by law to prevent injustice when one party has conferred a measurable benefit that the other retains without payment.
Supporting sources
How is the amount of recovery determined in a quasi-contract action?+
The measure is the reasonable value of the services or goods provided, often shown by the cost incurred or market rate. Cost serves as reliable evidence of value when the benefit is retained by the defendant.
Supporting sources
ContractsIdentification of governing law · Identification of governing lawNEXTGENFoundational