Q

Quantum Meruit

Quantum meruit means, simply, "for what it’s worth". It’s that simple. Don’t be bamboozled by legal jargon. Quantum meruit is a cause of action that arises when one person promises to do something for another, and the other takes some action that would cause a reasonable person to believe that the first person will perform, such as tendering a sum of money for what is promised. Even where there is no contract, per se, there may be a cause of action where a person gives value to another under circumstances that would cause the first person (if reasonable) to believe the second person will give fair market value for what he received. This is a very powerful cause of action that opens the door to recovering moneys advanced to others for services or goods never delivered. Quantum meruit offers recovery of "whatever the thing was worth". It is a beautiful invention of wise judges in the past who recognized that very often there is not a written or even a verbal contract between two persons yet an understanding exists upon the passing from one to the other of some value monetary in nature. The law recognizes the right of one to recover from the other for sums delivered for which no return value is given. This right gives rise to the cause of action known as quantum meruit.

This is one of your common law causes of action. Don't let your opponents' lawyers steal it from you.

Fight for your quantum meruit.

Quid Pro Quo

Literally "this for that". It is the heart and soul of contract law. One party gives a promise, the other side agrees. The two are bound. This for that.

That so few persons are able to complete their bargains is no measure of the system that will fix your broken promises if you know how to use it. The system works for those who know how to be heard in court. The system is a good thing.

Use it.

Quid pro quo.

Do your part.

That’s the quid.

Quitclaim Deed

The best way to explain this term is to tell the story of those who sell the Brooklyn Bridge every now and then. If one makes and executes a quitclaim deed to another, all the recipient gets is what the grantor had to give. If the grantor did not have actual title to convey, the recipient gets nothing. Contrast this with a warranty deed, by which the grantor pledges and guarantees that the title being conveyed thereby is good, promising to remain responsible to defend the authenticity of the title he conveys. With a quitclaim deed you get only what the grantor actually had to give ... and nothing more. You will immediately see the problems failure to understand this term can bring the unwary.

Quo Warranto

See Writ of Quo Warranto.