Quasi-Contract

In one sentence

A court-imposed obligation to pay for benefits received, used to prevent unjust enrichment.

Plain English

A quasi-contract is a legal fiction—courts use it to require someone to pay for a benefit they received even though no real contract ever existed. It's a remedy for situations where one party would be unfairly enriched if they didn't have to pay. Quasi-contracts are based on fairness, not on any agreement between the parties. They're called 'quasi' because they're not true contracts, but courts treat them like contracts to achieve a just result.

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Example

You hire a contractor to renovate your kitchen. He completes half the work, then you fire him without paying anything. Even though you have no written contract, a court may impose a quasi-contract requiring you to pay for the value of the work he completed.

Used in a sentence

“The court awarded damages based on a quasi-contract theory because the defendant received the benefit of the plaintiff's services.”

Related terms

Implied-in-Law Contract

A court-imposed obligation to prevent unjust enrichment when no actual contract exists.

Implied Contract

A contract where the parties' intent to be bound is shown by conduct rather than explicit words.

Unjust Enrichment

A legal claim when someone gains money or benefit unfairly at another's expense.

Rescission

Unwinding a contract entirely, returning both parties to their positions before the deal.

Reliance Damages

Compensation for losses suffered by relying on a promise, even if no formal contract exists.

Offer

A proposal to enter into a binding agreement on specific terms.

Acceptance

Agreeing to the exact terms of an offer, creating a binding contract.

Consideration

Something of value exchanged by each party to make a contract binding.

This page is a plain-English reference and is not legal advice. Laws vary by jurisdiction and change over time. For specific situations consult a licensed attorney.