How To Prove A California Unjust Enrichment Defense

In California, a defense of Unjust Enrichment is defined as:
A legal doctrine to remedy the situation where one party to a contract or agreement unjustifiably benefits from the property or action of another and without compensation.
It simply means:
When one party provides a benefit to another without receiving legal compensation for it.
There are 2 elements of the defense:
- Element 1. The plaintiff received a benefit. The plaintiff gained something valuable, like money or services, that they did not earn or deserve, which is a key part of proving that they were unjustly enriched in a legal case.
Facts that might support this element look like:
* The plaintiff received a monetary payment for services rendered, which they did not fully perform.
* The plaintiff was provided with valuable goods that they did not pay for, resulting in an unfair advantage.
* The plaintiff utilized proprietary information from the defendant, leading to increased profits without compensation.
* The plaintiff benefited from the defendant’s marketing efforts, which significantly increased their customer base without any contribution.
* The plaintiff enjoyed access to exclusive resources that were intended for the defendant’s use only, enhancing their competitive position. - Element 2. The plaintiff unjustly retained the benefit at the expense of another. The plaintiff unfairly kept something valuable that rightfully belonged to someone else, causing that person to lose out on what they deserved.
Facts that might support this element look like:
* The plaintiff received a payment for services that were never rendered to the defendant.
* The plaintiff retained possession of property belonging to the defendant without any legal justification.
* The plaintiff profited from the defendant’s intellectual property without permission or compensation.
* The plaintiff was aware that the defendant had a rightful claim to the benefits received.
* The plaintiff failed to return funds that were mistakenly transferred to them by the defendant.
(See Branche V Hetzel, (1966) 241 Ca2d 801, 51 Cal Rptr 188. California Civil Jury Instructions (CACI), No. 4410.)
If you’re in court without a lawyer and plan to assert a Defense of Unjust Enrichment, having a Personal Practice of Law at Courtroom5 is essential. You’ll need to make informed decisions about what to file at each phase of your case and prepare legal documents supported by thorough legal research and a strong analysis of the facts. Equip yourself with the tools and knowledge necessary to effectively present your Defense of Unjust Enrichment.
Prove Your CA Unjust Enrichment Defense
U.S. Civil Cases Only