Quantum Meruit

In latin, Quantum Meruit means “what one has earned.” In terms of law, Quantum Meruit defines as “reasonable value of services.” Quantum Meruit is when a service is done, with the implication that they will be paid in some way for their work, and they are not paid for the work they did, either at all, or in the deserving amount. Quantum Meruit can also apply to goods, in the same way it applies to services.

“Implied” Contracts

Quantum Meruit works when there is no contract verbally said, nor written. This makes the contract involved an implied contract. An implied contract is a contract that is not verbally said, and is not written, but rather, implied through the actions of those involved. For example, a door needs to be built in the home that you share, on the lease, with one other person. It is agreed between the both of you that you will build the door in lieu of spending the money to hire someone to do so. Since the door will benefit both you and the other member in the house and your roommate isn’t helping you build it, it is assumed that you will be paid for your labor. Through the action of mutually agreeing that you build the door, and the action of you building it, it is now an implied contract that you will be paid for your service.

Quantum Meruit and Services

Quantum Meruit comes in the above example when you are not paid for the work you did. You built the door, yet your roommate hasn’t paid you like you deserve. You can now bring him to court under the implied contract that he would have paid you for building the door. You can enter court under the claim that you were not paid what you deserved, and leave with the amount you deserve.

Quantum Meruit and Goods

Just like not getting paid for services, Quantum Meruit also applies to not getting paid for goods. For example, imagine your friend wants a table that you have. You agree to give him that table, but when you give him the table, he doesn’t pay you for it. You assume that your friend will be paying for this table, taking into consideration that if this table were to be in a store, and a customer wants this table, they must pay for it as well. Now that your implied contract has been breached, you now have the chance to take your friend to court under Quantum Meruit and you can be paid in some sort of way for the table you gave your friend.