Restitution of Payments Made Under a Mistake of Law

Restitution of Payments Made Under a Mistake of Law
Author: Great Britain. Law Commission
Publisher:
Total Pages: 137
Release: 1991
Genre: England
ISBN: 9780117302020

People often make mistakes when making payments. The mistake may be as to the correct amount of a bill or as to whom the money is owed. Where the mistake has led to an overpayment, should the person who made the payment be able to recover the amount of the over-payment? At present, the answer to this question depends on whether the mistake is one of fact or one of law. In this consultation paper, the Law Commission reviews the general rule that payments made under a mistake of law are irrecoverable. The rule has been the subject of criticism for some time, and the courts have to an extent acknowledged the unfairness of an absolute rule through the wealth of exceptions and qualifications created. The provisional view of the Commission, on which the comments of all interested parties are sought, is that the different treatment of mistakes of law and mistakes of fact is not justified, that the present law produces anomalies and that there is a case for abolishing the rule precluding recovery of payments made under a mistake of law.

The Principles of the Law of Restitution

The Principles of the Law of Restitution
Author: Graham Virgo
Publisher: Clarendon Press
Total Pages: 892
Release: 1999
Genre: Law
ISBN: 9780198763772

This new textbook outlines the general principles of the rapidly developing subject of the Law of Restitution. Restitution is concerned with the reversing of unjust enrichment and was recently recognized as a discrete body of law by the House of Lords although restitutionary principles have in fact been evolving for over 200 years. Rather than taking the traditional approach which assumes that restitutionary remedies will be awarded against a defendant only where it can be shown that the defendant has been unjustly enriched at the expense of the plaintiff.The book asserts that the law of restitution is simply concerned with the question of when restitutionary remedies may be awarded, that is remedies which are assessed by reference to a benefit obtained by the defendant. But in determining whether restitutionary remedies are available it is necessary to identify the causes of the action which triggers them. There are three such causes of action, namely the reversal of the defendants unjust enrichment, the commission of a wrong by the defendant, and the vindication of the defendants property rights. The state of the law is examined through analyses of the statutory provisions and key cases demonstrating the way the law is used to resolve a wide variety of legal problems. The very different views of academics as to the nature and ambit of the subject are also identified. This book will be invaluable to students on restitution courses at every level.

Cases and Materials on the Law of Restitution

Cases and Materials on the Law of Restitution
Author: Andrew S. Burrows
Publisher:
Total Pages: 1101
Release: 2007
Genre: Law
ISBN: 0199296510

Written by leading experts who have shaped and defined the law of restitution, the book provides an authoritative and scholarly guide to the subject. The second edition of this seminal title continues the formula of the first edition by combining a comprehensive coverage of cases with extracts from leading academic authorities.

The Law of Restitution

The Law of Restitution
Author: Andrew S. Burrows
Publisher: Oxford University Press, USA
Total Pages: 712
Release: 2002
Genre: Law
ISBN:

Restitution is increasingly covered at undergraduate level in courses on contract, tort, common law and obligations. This book provides comprehensive coverage of the subject, including detailed examination of such areas as subrogation, limitation of actions and conflict of laws.

Cases on Restitution

Cases on Restitution
Author: John Philip Dawson
Publisher: Indianapolis : Bobbs-Merrill
Total Pages: 1128
Release: 1969
Genre: Law
ISBN:

The Law of Restitution

The Law of Restitution
Author: Andrew S. Burrows
Publisher: Oxford University Press
Total Pages: 789
Release: 2011
Genre: Law
ISBN: 0199296529

This highly-praised textbook provides detailed and incisive coverage of all aspects of restitution. The author's expert analysis and clarity of style will be invaluable to both students and practitioners with an interest in this area of law.