Courses | Columbia Law School

Situated at the intersection of the three other branches of private law--property, torts, and contracts--the law of restitution and unjust enrichment covers doctrines involving someone who benefits at the expense of another. This course will explore the underlying theories and policies of private law through revitalizing and critically examining some specific manifestations of the law of restitution, including: benefits acquired through infringement of patents, copyrights, trademarks, and trade secrets; trespass, conversion, interference with contractual relations, and defamation; conferral of unsolicited benefits in cases such as class actions, joint liability, or mistaken payments; profitable breach of contract and claims for benefits conferred in performing a losing contract; and claims for restitution from insolvent defendants.