Pearce v. Allen CA2/2
Back in 2001, a woman quit her corporate job so she could help her then-boyfriend with his fledging business as a sculptor. Over the next several years, they grew the business and had a child together. In 2013, the sculptor ended the romance; in 2014, he ended the business partnership. The woman sued for, among other things, (1) breach of contract based on the sculptor’s promise to support her for life if she provided him her professional and household services, and (2) quantum meruit. The jury returned a special verdict finding that the parties had a contract that the sculptor had fulfilled and also awarding her $780,000 under quantum meruit for the same services that underlie the contract the jury found to exist and to be fulfilled. The trial court granted a new trial on the ground that the special verdict was inconsistent. Both parties appeal. We conclude the trial court’s grant of a new trial was appropriate.
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