A. The reasonable value of services; damages awarded in an amount considered reasonable to compensate a person who has rendered services in a quasi-contractual relationship.
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to pronunciationLegal Definition -
1. The reasonable value of services; damages awarded in an amount considered reasonable to compensate a person who has rendered services in a quasi-contractual relationship. 2. A claim or right of action for the reasonable value of services rendered. *Quantum meruit is still used today as an equitable remedy to provide restitution for unjust enrichment. It is often pleaded as an alternative claim in a breach-of-contract case so that the plaintiff can recover even if the contract is unenforceable. .
Black's Law Dictionary® Eighth Edition © 2004
Current Usage -
"Last May, when a legal malpractice suit against Dallas securities attorney Phillip W. Offill Jr. and his former firm settled, the parties involved seemed happy, but that satisfaction was short-lived. Now a Dallas firm that represented plaintiff Consolidated Sports Media Group in that legal malpractice case has filed its own suit against CSMG, its co-counsel and others, alleging it was cut out of the deal. Nowak & Stauch is seeking the fair and reasonable value of services rendered to CSMG, reasonable costs incurred under quantum meruit and punitive damages associated with defendants' conduct, among other things. Nowak & Stauch alleges that Dallas' Sifford Anderson brought it into the legal malpractice suit on a contingent-fee basis to assist with the representation of CSMG. Sifford Anderson and Nowak & Stauch 'entered into a joint prosecution agreement on May 25, 2005, which incorporated the contingent-fee agreement,' Nowak & Stauch alleges. The contingent-fee contract provided: 'No compromise, settlement or filing of suit on Client's claim will be made without the consent of both Client and Attorney.'" John Council, Texas Lawyer August 20, 2007