What is the doctrine of unjust enrichment?
The doctrine of unjust enrichment is a principle of Massachusetts Unfair Competition Law which prevents people from illegally obtaining a benefit or advantage at the expense of another. This doctrine operates to provide a remedy for someone who has been wronged and therefore seeks restitution for the damages or loss caused. Essentially, unjust enrichment occurs when one person gains an unfair advantage or an undeserved benefit at the expense of another person. This doctrine is related to a contract or agreement between the two parties, but is not necessarily dependent on the existence of one. Instead, it can occur without the presence of a contract if one person receives something from another and does not pay for it or offer anything of equal value in return. For unjust enrichment to be enforced, both parties must have been involved in some form of interaction, and the party seeking restitution must provide evidence of damages or losses. Further, the wronged party must prove that the enrichment was “unjust” and that the losses were the direct result of the other party’s gain. If all conditions are met, then the court may order the person who benefitted from the unjust enrichment to compensate the other party for the losses caused.
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