Get Paid for the Work with an Orlando Unjust Enrichment Attorney
Unjust enrichment and quantum meruit let you recover the fair valueof goods or services you delivered when there's no signed contract. As an Orlando, Florida unjust enrichment and quantum meruit attorney, Keough Law helps businesses collect for the value they provided—even on a handshake.
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You did the work—they kept the value
The contractor who built on a verbal go-ahead. The vendor who delivered on a purchase order that was never countersigned. The consultant who started while the agreement was “being finalized.” When the paperwork never caught up with the work, the other side often argues that no contract means no obligation to pay.
Florida law disagrees. Where you conferred a benefit and it would be unjust for the other party to keep it for free, these equitable claims let you recover its value. They're a core part of our nonpayment & collections work.
- You delivered goods or services on a verbal deal.
- The contract was never signed—but the work got done.
- They accepted the benefit and now refuse to pay.
- The written contract doesn’t cover the extra work.
What we have to prove
These are equitable claims, so the focus is fairness: you gave something of value, they took it, and keeping it for free would be wrong. Here is what that breaks down to.
You conferred a benefit
You delivered goods, services, or value—finished work, materials, or labor the other side actually received.
They knew and accepted it
The other party was aware of the benefit and took it, rather than rejecting or returning it.
Retention would be unjust
Under the circumstances, it would be inequitable for them to keep what you provided without paying its value.
No express contract governs
There is no enforceable written contract covering the same subject—these equitable claims fill exactly that gap.
What the other side will argue
Because these claims turn on fairness, the defense usually tries to reframe the facts—calling the work a gift, denying they ever accepted it, or pointing to a contract that supposedly already covers it.
We build the record to close each of those doors before the other side can walk through it.
The dodge
- "It was a favor / a gift"
- "We never asked for it"
- "A contract already covers this"
- "The value was far less"
The record
- A clear expectation of payment, in writing
- Proof they accepted and used the benefit
- Work that falls outside any contract
- Credible market value evidence
Value delivered is value owed
Keough Law recovers for businesses that did the work and got stiffed on a technicality—no signed contract, a stalled agreement, extra scope that never made it into the paperwork. We prove the value you delivered and press it to judgment. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.
“We'd done the work and they hid behind a missing signature. Shaun cut through it, valued what we delivered, and got us paid.”
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Recovery Matter
The reasonable value of what you gave
Equitable recovery is measured differently than a contract claim. Here is what these claims put back in your pocket—and what they don't.
Reasonable value
The fair market value of the goods or services you actually provided.
The benefit retained
What the defendant unfairly kept—measured by value received, not your cost.
Interest
Prejudgment interest on the value owed, where the amount is sufficiently established.
Not lost profits
Unlike a contract claim, equity generally recovers value conferred—not your expected profit.
From unpaid work to recovery
Value the benefit
We document what you delivered and establish its reasonable value—the measure these claims actually recover.
Assemble the proof
Estimates, change orders, texts, emails, delivery records, and the parties’ conduct that show acceptance and expectation of payment.
Demand or file
We pursue payment through a targeted demand, then plead unjust enrichment and quantum meruit—often alongside any contract count.
Judgment & collection
We press to judgment and collect—garnishment, liens, and enforcement so the value you delivered comes back as cash.
Scoped to the value at stake
We often open with a flat-fee demand letter that frames the value you delivered and the law behind it—frequently enough to get you paid without a lawsuit. If we file, we scope the work to what's at stake and give you an honest read on cost and likely recovery.
You'll get a straight answer on whether the claim is worth pursuing during your free consultation.
A litigator for the gray areas
You work directly with Shaun Keough, not a rotating cast of associates. These equitable claims sit inside our business litigation practice, so when the facts also support a breach of contract or open account claim, we plead them together.
Unjust enrichment questions
Can I recover payment without a signed contract in Florida?
Yes. Unjust enrichment and quantum meruit are equitable claims built for exactly that situation. If you conferred a benefit the other party knowingly accepted, and it would be unfair for them to keep it without paying, Florida law lets you recover the reasonable value of what you delivered even without a written agreement.
What is the difference between unjust enrichment and quantum meruit?
They overlap heavily. Unjust enrichment focuses on a benefit the defendant unfairly retained; quantum meruit—Latin for “as much as he deserved”—focuses on the reasonable value of services rendered under an implied contract. In practice we often plead both, because the same facts usually support each, and let the court apply whichever fits.
Does an existing contract kill an unjust enrichment claim?
It can. Florida generally bars an unjust enrichment claim when an express, enforceable contract already governs the same subject matter—because the contract, not equity, controls. That is why these claims shine where there is no contract, where the contract is unenforceable, or where the work fell outside the contract’s scope. We plead them in the alternative to keep every avenue open.
How are damages measured?
By the reasonable value of the benefit you conferred—typically the market value of the goods or services—rather than your lost profits or expectation damages under a contract. We build the record to establish that value credibly, using estimates, industry rates, and what the defendant actually received.
How long do I have to bring the claim?
Unjust enrichment and quantum meruit claims in Florida generally carry a four-year statute of limitations, running from when the benefit was conferred or payment became due. Because the trigger date can be disputed, it is best to act early rather than assume the clock has not run.
Ready to protect
what you've built?
Schedule a free, confidential consultation. We'll talk through your situation and figure out the right next step together.