Quantum meruit
| Literal meaning | As much as he has earned |
|---|---|
| Pronunciation | KWON-tum MEH-roo-it |
A claim for reasonable payment for work done or goods supplied where no price was fixed or the contract has failed.
Example
A person does repair work for a neighbour at his request, with no price fixed. He can claim a fair amount for the work.
Case laws
- Moses v. Macferlan (1760), England: Lord Mansfield explained the idea of quasi-contract based on fairness.
Statutory link
Section 70 of the Indian Contract Act, 1872: a person who lawfully does something for another, and the other enjoys the benefit, must pay for it.
Exam tip
Asked with Section 70 of the Contract Act.
Memory trick
Pay for what you got.
Key takeaway
Quantum meruit gives reasonable payment for work that benefited another.
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