Unjustified enrichment occurs when one person is enriched at the expense of another without valid legal ground. Behind this rather simple rule, there is a complex system of claims for unjustified enrichment and rules of restitution.
Historically, the law of unjustified enrichment has been subject to many changes. In Roman law, the concept of unjustified enrichment was unknown. However, there were many different performance-based enrichment claims (condictiones) and actio de in rem verso, which was used in three-party situations. During the time of ius commune the scholars emphasized the importance of natural justice and defined it as a common core of all enrichment claims. Influenced by the theory of pandectists, the general enrichment clause was introduced in the German and Swiss civil code. Rules of unjustified enrichment as contained in the Slovenian Code of Obligations are based on the general enrichment claim as well. Despite the unitary approach, a variety of enrichment claims is recognised in legal theory and practice. It could be noticed that the historical distinction between performance-based enrichments and non-performance-based enrichments was not abolished.
The work analyses the Slovenian law of unjustified enrichment in comparative perspective. Its critical assessment is based on a comparison with the German, Swiss, Austrian, French law and model rules of DCFR and PEL Unj. Enr. The analysis follows the taxonomy of enrichment claims based on the division between performance-based enrichments and non-performance-based enrichments, which is already established in our legal system. However, it concludes that the current interpretation of general clause is problematic and offers solutions for its interpretation de lege ferenda.
Furthermore, the work deals with restitution for unjustified enrichment. It focuses on situations, when restitution in kind is impossible due to various reasons. The issue of disgorgement of (illegally gained) profits is also presented, whereas the work proposes solutions for the disgorgement of profits within the law of unjustified enrichment. Additionally, the principle of enrichment is analysed. An approach is proposed that this principle shall be applied in a form and within the limits of the defence of disenrichment.
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