A
quasi-contract (or
implied-in-law contract or
constructive contract) is a
fictional contract created by courts for
equitable, not
contractual, purposes. A quasi-contract is not an actual contract, but is a legal substitute formed to impose
equity between two parties. The concept of a quasi-contract is that of a contract that
should have been formed, even though in actuality it was not. It is used when a court finds it appropriate to create an obligation upon a non-contracting party to
avoid injustice and to
ensure fairness. It is invoked in circumstances of and is connected with the concept of
restitution.