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Unit Overview

Description

The law of unjust enrichment has until recently been the forgotten area of private law or the law of obligations. It is now firmly entrenched as the third fundamental area of the law of obligations, along with contract and tort. This unit focuses on several areas of the law of unjust enrichment including mistaken payments, duress, failure of consideration and available defences. Also dealt with are waiver of tort, estoppel, tracing, and restitutionary recovery of improperly acquired gains. Key areas of the law that are unclear when considered other than in the context of the law of unjust enrichment are also dealt with, for example, unconscionability, waiver of tort, estoppel, and equitable and common law tracing. The unit also examines the law of restitution, the gains based remedy for actions in unjust enrichment and an under-appreciated additional remedy available to other causes of action such as wrongs.

Credit
6 points
Offering
(see Timetable)
AvailabilityLocationMode
Non-standard teaching periodUWA (Perth)Face to face
Outcomes

Students are able to (1) demonstrate how restitutionary rights arise in unjust enrichment and how restitutionary rights are affected by defences; (2) integrate knowledge of property, torts, trusts and equity to identify any inconsistencies in the cases concerning unjust enrichment; and (3) conduct independent research on unjust enrichment and restitution issues.

Assessment

Students demonstrate achievement of the outcomes in a variety of assessment methods which may include a case note and research essays. Details of assessment are advised in the unit outline.



Student may be offered supplementary assessment in this unit if they meet the eligibility criteria.

Unit rules
Incompatibility
LAWS3392 Unjust Enrichment and Restitution
Contact hours
Students must attend every day of the intensive period. 6-10 Feb 2023
Note
Students must attend every day of the intensive period. 6-10 Feb 2023
Text

Edelman, J. and Bant, E. Unjust Enrichment in Australia: OUP 2006 

  • The availability of units in Semester 1, 2, etc. was correct at the time of publication but may be subject to change.
  • All students are responsible for identifying when they need assistance to improve their academic learning, research, English language and numeracy skills; seeking out the services and resources available to help them; and applying what they learn. Students are encouraged to register for free online support through GETSmart; to help themselves to the extensive range of resources on UWA's STUDYSmarter website; and to participate in WRITESmart and (ma+hs)Smart drop-ins and workshops.
  • Visit the Essential Textbooks website to see if any textbooks are required for this Unit. The website is updated regularly so content may change. Students are recommended to purchase Essential Textbooks, but a limited number of copies of all Essential Textbooks are held in the Library in print, and as an ebook where possible. Recommended readings for the unit can be accessed in Unit Readings directly through the Learning Management System (LMS).
  • Contact hours provide an indication of the type and extent of in-class activities this unit may contain. The total amount of student work (including contact hours, assessment time, and self-study) will approximate 150 hours per 6 credit points.