Unjust enrichment is a legal term that refers to the situation where one party unjustly benefits at the expense of another party. It occurs when one party retains a benefit or receives a payment that they should not be entitled to under the law. This concept is widely recognized in various legal systems, including common law jurisdictions. 1. Elements of Unjust Enrichment: To establish a claim of unjust enrichment, certain key elements must be present. The two main elements are as follows: a) Benefit conferred: The claimant must have conferred a benefit upon the defendant. This can be in the form of money, services, goods, or other valuable assets. It is crucial to demonstrate that the defendant received a benefit as a result of the claimant's actions or transfer of assets. b) Lack of legal basis: There must be no legal or valid reason for the defendant to have received the benefit. This means that the defendant should not have a contractual obligation, statutory duty, or any other authorized grounds to retain or accept the benefit. If the defendant has a legitimate reason for the benefit, it negates the claim of unjust enrichment. 2. Types of Unjust Enrichment: a) Failure of consideration: This type of unjust enrichment occurs when one party fails to provide the agreed-upon consideration as per a contract, yet still receives a benefit from the other party. For example, if Party A hires Party B to provide a service but B fails to perform the agreed-upon service, but still gets paid by A, it can be claimed that B has been unjustly enriched. b) Mistaken payment: This type of unjust enrichment arises when a party makes a payment to another party in error. If Party A mistakenly transfers money to Party B, and Party B, knowing about the mistake, keeps the money without any legal justification, then a claim of unjust enrichment can be brought by Party A to recover the mistakenly paid amount. In conclusion, unjust enrichment is a legal doctrine used to ensure fairness and prevent one party from benefiting unjustly at the expense of another. It encompasses situations where a benefit is conferred without a legal basis. Two main elements, namely a conferred benefit and the lack of a legitimate reason for the benefit, must be present to establish a claim of unjust enrichment. Additionally, examples of unjust enrichment can include situations involving the failure of consideration and mistaken payment.