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Quasi-contract
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==History== In [[common law]] jurisdictions, the law of quasi-contract can be traced to the medieval [[form of action]] known as ''[[indebitatus assumpsit]]''. In essence, the plaintiff would recover a money sum from the defendant ''as if'' the defendant had promised to pay it: that is, ''as if'' there were a contract subsisting between the parties. The defendant's promise—their agreement to be bound by the "contract"—was implied by law. The law of quasi-contract was generally used to enforce [[Restitution in English law|restitutionary]] obligations.<ref>See generally, Sir John Baker, ''An Introduction to English Law History'' (4th ed)</ref> The form of action known as ''indebitatus assumpsit'' came to include various sub-forms known as the common money counts. The most important of these for the later development of the law of quasi-contract included: (i) actions for [[money had and received]] to the plaintiff's use; (ii) actions for money paid to the defendant's use; (iii) ''[[quantum meruit]]''; and (iv) ''[[quantum valebant]]''.<ref>See generally, Sir John Baker, ''An Introduction to English Legal History'' (4th ed)</ref> Quasi-contractual actions were generally (but not exclusively) used to remedy what would now be called [[unjust enrichment]]. In most common law jurisdictions the law of quasi-contract has been superseded by the [[Unjust enrichment|law of unjust enrichment]].<ref>See generally, Mitchell et al, ''[[Goff & Jones|Goff & Jones Law of Unjust Enrichment]]'' (8th ed, 2011); Carter et al, ''Mason & Carter's Restitution Law in Australia'' (2nd ed, 2008); Graham Virgo, ''The Principles of the Law of Restitution'' (3rd ed, 2015)</ref>
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