Supreme Court overturns €75,000 award in Reynolds v Blanchfield

This report is a localnews.ie summary based on public court reporting and records; sources are listed below.

The Supreme Court allowed Paul Blanchfield’s appeal, overturning the High Court’s €75,000 award to Mark Reynolds for services on a quantum meruit basis. The court held that Reynolds had not pleaded a claim for that relief or the facts needed to establish entitlement, and that the evidence was insufficient to value it properly.

Reynolds’ case had sought €200,000 on the basis of an alleged agreement that Blanchfield would pay for his services on a French property development. The High Court found no concluded agreement to pay that sum, but nonetheless assessed the services at €75,000. There was no cross-appeal against the finding on the alleged €200,000 agreement.

The Supreme Court concluded that the pleadings left Blanchfield without advance notice of a quantum meruit claim and a fair opportunity to answer it. It also found no evidence from which the High Court could make a reasoned valuation.