Opinion ID: 2156596
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Jordan Keys'implied-in-fact theory.

Text: We agree with the trial judge that Jordan Keys' amended complaint, viewed in the light most favorable to the pleader, does not allege the elements of an implied-in-fact contract. An implied-in-fact contract is a true contract, containing all necessary elements of a binding agreement; it differs from other contracts only in that it has not been committed to writing or stated orally in express terms, but rather is inferred from the conduct of the parties in the milieu in which they dealt. Vereen v. Clayborne, 623 A.2d 1190, 1193 (D.C.1993) (quoting Bloomgarden v. Coyer, 156 U.S.App.D.C. 109, 116, 479 F.2d 201, 208 (1973)). In Vereen, we described as follows the requirements for recovery under a contract implied-in-fact: (1) valuable services being rendered; (2) for the person sought to be charged; (3) which services were accepted by the person sought to be charged, used and enjoyed by him or her; and (4) under such circumstances as reasonably notified the person sought to be charged that the [person rendering the services] expected to be paid by him or her. 623 A.2d at 1193 (citations omitted). We find it unnecessary to determine whether Jordan Keys has satisfied the first three of the foregoing requirements, for its claim incontrovertibly founders on the fourth. At the time Jordan Keys provided services to the Hospital, St. Paul was not placed on notice that Jordan Keys expected to be paid for those services by St. Paul. On the contrary, as Jordan Keys acknowledges, it contracted to be paid by its client, the Hospital, and not by the Hospital's excess carrier, a party with which Jordan Keys had no agreement at all. Indeed, since an implied-in-fact contract is a true contract, Vereen, 623 A.2d at 1193, the contention that such a contract exists between Jordan Keys and St. Paul fails at the very outset. Jordan Keys does not allege that St. Paul broke an agreement to pay for Jordan Keys' legal services. On the contrary, Jordan Keys complains that St. Paul refused to agree to pay. Under these circumstances, the implied-in-fact contract theory is untenable.