Opinion ID: 1896318
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 7

Heading: whether the oral promises should be enforced in quantum meruit.

Text: ¶ 25. Quantum meruit recovery is a contract remedy which may be premised either on express or implied contract, and a prerequisite to establishing grounds for quantum meruit recovery is claimant's reasonable expectation of compensation. Estate of Johnson v. Adkins, 513 So.2d 922, 926 (Miss.1987); Estate of Van Ryan v. McMurtray, 505 So.2d 1015 (Miss.1987); Wiltz v. Huff, 264 So.2d 808, 810-11 (Miss.1972). The essential elements of recovery under quantum meruit are (1) valuable services were rendered or materials furnished; (2) for the person sought to be charged; (3) which services and materials were accepted by the person sought to be charged, used and enjoyed by him; and (4) under such circumstances as reasonably notified person sought to be charged that plaintiff, in performing such services, was expected to be paid by person sought to be charged. Reed v. Weathers Refrigeration & Air Conditioning, Inc., 759 So.2d 521, 525 (Miss.Ct.App.2000) (quoting Black's Law Dictionary 1243 (6th ed.1990)). The doctrine of quantum meruit applies to situations where there is no legal contract but where the person sought to be charged is in possession of money or property which in good conscience and justice he should not retain but should deliver to another, the courts imposing a duty to refund the money or the use value of the property to the person to whom in good conscience it ought to belong. Hans v. Hans, 482 So.2d 1117, 1122 (Miss.1986). ¶ 26. Quantum meruit is not applicable to this case because the Estate was not in possession of Phillips' money. Phillips' money was given to Plantation Pointe, not to Fitzner. Phillips' quantum meruit claim also fails because the cash that Phillips contributed to Plantation Pointe was not used and enjoyed by Fitzner. This claim is without merit.