Case Name: Samuel Lewis v. Robert Esther
Court: United States Circuit Court of the District of Columbia
Jurisdiction: United States
Decision Date: 1823-10
Citations: 2 Cranch 423
Docket Number: 
Parties: Samuel Lewis v. Robert Esther.
Judges: 
Reporter: Reports of cases argued and determined in the Supreme Court of the District of Columbia (District of Columbia - reported by Mackey)
Volume: 2
Pages: 423–423

Head Matter:
Samuel Lewis v. Robert Esther.
If a man contract to do certain work, at a certain price, and quits it before it is finished, be cannot recover upon a quantum meruit, the value of his labor.
The plaintiff agreed to do certain work for the defendant, for the sum of $125. He began, but abandoned it before it was finished, and now sued for quantum meruit, and offered to prove the value of his work.
Mr. Tones, for the defendant,
objected that there was an express, specific agreement at a certain price, and therefore the plaintiff could not recover upon an implied assumpsit.
Mr. Ashton, contrd,
contended that, by usage, money is due as the work progresses, otherwise a poor mechanic cannot go on.

Opinion:
But
the Court
(nem. con.) rejected the evidence, and instructed the jury that the plaintiff is not entitled to recover in this action.