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Arkansas Supreme Court - 83 Ark. 601
Tags: Contracts, Quasi-contract, Restitution
tl;dr:
Doctors performed an emergency procedure on an unconscious person, after the person had sustained serious injuries in a car accident. Then, the person died and the doctors sought to recover the fair value of the services they provided.Video Summary
Case Summary
In the 1907 case Cotnam v. Wisdom, the Arkansas Supreme Court dealt with a situation where surgeons treated an unconscious patient and sought payment for their services. The case reached the state's highest court after the lower court awarded damages to the surgeons, who sued the deceased patient's administrator. The defendant claimed they were not responsible for the costs, as no contract was made between the surgeons and the deceased.
The court's main focus was to determine if the surgeons could receive payment based on a quasi-contract or implied contract theory. Ultimately, the court decided that the surgeons could be compensated for providing necessary assistance to someone in a vulnerable situation.
The reasoning behind this decision was the idea of a quasi-contract or implied contract. Although no actual agreement was made, the law recognizes a moral obligation to prevent unfair enrichment in these situations. The court used the quantum meruit doctrine, meaning that when someone provides a benefit to another without a formal agreement, they can recover reasonable compensation.
This case is significant because it highlights how courts interpret and enforce quasi-contracts and apply the quantum meruit doctrine to prevent unfair enrichment. Additionally, it demonstrates the recognition of moral obligations in relation to emergency assistance. As an early Arkansas contract law case, Chief Justice Hill provided the opinion.
DeepDiveHighlight a legal term to see the definition
This legal case involves a dispute over an implied contract, also known as a quasi-contract or constructive contract. The court explains that an implied contract can be inferred by law based on the circumstances, and individuals can be held liable for necessaries provided to them in good faith. The court cites legal sources to support the concept of implied contracts and demonstrates its practical application in Lewis v. Lewis. The court also notes that evidence regarding a patient's financial status cannot be considered in cases where there is no contract, but may be admissible if it was a factor considered by both parties when services were rendered and accepted. The defendant's attempt to shift the burden of proof onto the plaintiff was refused, and evidence regarding the deceased's bachelor status and the value of his estate was allowed to be presented.
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