Legal Definitions - quantum valebant

Quantum valebant is a legal principle that allows a party to recover the reasonable value of goods or materials they have provided to another, even if there was no formal contract or if a contract that existed later became unenforceable. It is an equitable remedy designed to prevent one party from being unjustly enriched by receiving and benefiting from goods without paying a fair price for them.

Here are some examples illustrating how quantum valebant applies:

• Example 1: Unsolicited but Accepted Delivery

  A construction supply company mistakenly delivers a pallet of specialized roofing shingles to the wrong address. The homeowner, noticing the high-quality materials, decides to use them for a planned roof repair, assuming they were a gift or a free sample. When the supply company realizes its error and demands payment, the homeowner refuses, arguing no price was ever agreed upon.

  Explanation: Even though there was no contract between the supply company and the homeowner, the homeowner received and benefited from the valuable roofing shingles. A court could apply quantum valebant to compel the homeowner to pay the supply company the reasonable market value of the shingles, preventing the homeowner from being unjustly enriched by the mistake.

• Example 2: Unenforceable Contract for Goods

  A small artisanal soap maker verbally agrees to purchase a large quantity of rare essential oils from a new distributor. The oils are delivered and used to produce several batches of soap. Later, a dispute arises, and it is discovered that the verbal agreement was not legally binding because, under the relevant law (e.g., the Statute of Frauds), contracts for goods of that value must be in writing to be enforceable.

  Explanation: Despite the contract being unenforceable due to a legal technicality, the soap maker received and used the essential oils. The distributor could seek payment under quantum valebant for the reasonable market value of the oils provided, ensuring they are compensated for the goods the soap maker benefited from and preventing the soap maker's unjust enrichment.

• Example 3: Emergency Supply Without Prior Agreement

  During a severe power outage caused by a natural disaster, a local hospital's backup generators begin to run low on fuel. A nearby fuel supplier, without a pre-existing contract or price agreement, delivers a critical supply of diesel fuel to the hospital to ensure life-saving equipment can continue to operate. After the emergency subsides, the fuel supplier seeks payment for the diesel.

  Explanation: In this urgent situation, there was no opportunity to negotiate a formal contract or price for the fuel. However, the hospital clearly received and benefited from the essential diesel supply. A court could apply quantum valebant to require the hospital to pay the fuel supplier the reasonable market price for the diesel, ensuring the supplier is compensated for their crucial provision of goods.