Court Opinion

ID: 9848527
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-09-24 04:21:33.007862+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T09:18:22.450199
License: Public Domain

BRIGHTMIRE, P. J.
(concurring in result).
I think rejection of appellant’s “quantum meruit” argument because of the inadequacy of Parkhill Truck Co. v. Reynolds, Okl., 359 P.2d 1064 (1961) is not justified. “Quantum meruit” is but a restricted application (to labor and service performance) of the moral philosophy underlying the equitable doctrine of “unjust enrichment” originating with the ancient common law action of assumpsit — an implied promise of defendant to pay plaintiff what he reasonably deserves for work and labor performed for the former. 3 Black’s Commentaries 161; Viles v. Kennebec Lumber Co., 118 Me. 148, 106 A. 431 (1919). It was put another way in Carpenter v. Josey Oil Co., 26 F.2d 442 (8th Cir. 1928) — a case originating in the United States District Court for its Northern District of Oklahoma: “Quantum meruit refers to that class of obligations imposed by law, without regard to the intention or assent of the parties bound, for reasons dictated by reason and justice. The form of the action is contract, but they [sic] are not contracts, because the parties do not fix. the terms and their intentions are disregarded. One class of such cases is those where a party wrongfully compels another to render him valuable services, and a promise to pay is implied, because on equitable grounds one ought not to be permitted to keep that which is received without compensation.”
Here it is alleged appellees received beneficial services which unless they pay for them, will result in unjust enrichment. It is to be noted that mere bestowal of benefits is not sufficient to invoke the attention of equity. To be unjust the enrichment must have occurred under circumstances which would warrant a fact finder conclusion that some unfair advantage has been taken giving rise to an implied promise to pay— the same primal basis underlying assump-sit, the action at law.
In the case at bar it will not be possible to determine whether or not an implied promise on the part of appellees to pay appellant probably exists until all the evidence is adduced at trial. And this is true whether the action be considered legal or equitable in nature.