Turcott v. Estate of Bates

I. NATURE OF THE CASE

This appeal concerns a district court's award of damages. Believing that she would be inheriting half of her father Clarence Bates' estate, Deann Turcott and her husband spent considerable time and money making improvements on Clarence's land. However, Clarence subsequently changed his will and left Deann nothing. Deann filed suit seeking quantum meruit damages for the work she had performed. The district court held that quantum meruit damages were not appropriate and awarded damages under a theory of unjust enrichment. Deann appealed the district court's award of unjust…