Court Opinion

ID: 9729207
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-26 14:29:18.595901+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T18:25:56.085122
License: Public Domain

REYNOSO, J.
I concur in the results. However, I raise a concern pertaining to the status of decisional law. Neither the parties nor the majority have addressed the issue of quantum meruit as a more appropriate vehicle for a theory of recovery. Such a theory respects the intent of the Legislature and does equity. The omission is quite proper for in 1957 the California Supreme Court ruled that equitable theories of recovery cannot be urged in the face of Business and Professions Code section 7031. (Lewis & Queen v. N. M. Ball Sons (1957) 48 Cal.2d 141, 150 [308 P.2d 713].) The all-or-nothing approach to section 7031 is based on the premise that the statute represents a legislative determination that the importance of protecting the public from incompetent or untrustworthy unlicensed contractors outweighs any harshness to a party. (Id., at p. 151.) Even if we accept that the legislative intent was one based on concern for consumer protection,1 it is questionable whether such a purpose is advanced in the case at hand. Defendant Thornsberry, as a general contractor, is not in the position of a member of the general public who because of the disparity in knowledge and experience is unable to protect himself. Rather, as a general contractor, he is in a position equal to that of the party supplying the building and labor. Thus, he is able to evaluate the nature and quality of the performance for himself. To thereby permit *849Thornsberry to avoid payment for the work completed would only result in the statute being used as an “ ‘unwarranted shield for the avoidance of a just obligation.’ ” (Lewis & Queen, supra [dissent by Carter, J.], at p. 158.) This was never the intent of the statute. It is therefore understandable why the majority labored to fit the present set of facts into the statutory exemption.
The availability of a quantum meruit theory of recovery provides a more reasonable approach to the problem. In appropriate cases the court could take into account the enrichment bestowed by the unlicensed contractor without riddling the licensing statute. The unlicensed contractor would continue to be unable to enforce the contract which undoubtedly offered him greater compensation than a quantum meruit recovery offers.
In sum, the present all-or-nothing approach will continue to lead to efforts to avoid the statute in order to reach just results. This can only result in the nonuniform application of the law and provide little judicial guidance. Another look at equitable theories, including quantum meruit, is due.
A petition for a rehearing was denied November 14, 1979, and appellant’s petition for a hearing by the Supreme Court was denied December 20, 1979. Manuel, J„ was of the opinion that the petition should be granted.

 The legislative scheme may also be an effort to give added competitive advantage to the more politically organized licensed contractors.