In quantum meruit, who must request the services or goods provided?

In cases involving quantum meruit, the principle applies when one party provides services or goods to another party, and there is no formal contract in place specifying payment terms. For quantum meruit to apply, it is typically the person liable to pay who must have requested the services or goods. This means that the recipient of these services or goods is the one who implicitly agrees to compensate the provider for the benefit received.

In essence, quantum meruit allows for recovery of payment based on the value of the services rendered when there is no explicit agreement. It acknowledges that when one party requests and receives services from another, it is fair for the provider to be compensated for their work. This legal principle reinforces the idea of fairness in transactions even in the absence of a written or oral contract.

The emphasis is on the relationship between the provider of the service and the recipient. If the service provider were to initiate the request independently, it would not align with the essence of quantum meruit, which is grounded in the expectation of payment based on a request and subsequent benefit derived by the party who is liable to pay. Thus, the correct answer reflects the foundational premise of this legal concept, demonstrating that the obligation to pay arises from a direct request made by the party receiving the