The principles of the law of restitution / Graham Virgo.

Includes bibliographical references (pages 745-759) and index.

Part I. The fundameental principles of the law of restitution -- The essence of restitution -- Themes and controversies -- Part II. Unjust enrichment -- The principle of unjust enrichment -- Enrichment -- At the expense of the claimant -- Principles underlying the recognition of the grounds of restitution -- Lawful bases -- Ignorance -- Mistake -- Compulsion -- Exploitation -- Necessity -- Failure of basis -- Incapacity -- Restitution from public authorities -- Part III. Restitution for wrongs -- General principles -- Restitution for torts -- Restitution for breach of contract -- Restitution for equitable wrongdoing -- Criminal offences -- Part IV. Proprietary restitutionary claims -- Establishing proprietary restitutionary claims -- Restitutionary claims and remedies to vindicate property rights -- The defence of bona fide purchase -- Part V. General defences to restitutionary claims -- Fundamental principles -- Defences arising from changes in the defendant's circumstances -- Passing on and mitigation of loss -- Illegality -- Incapacity -- Limitation periods and laches.

"The third edition of The Principles of the Law of Restitution brings this widely cited and influential volume fully up to date. It has been substantially rewritten to reflect the significant changes in the law of restitution and the expansion in the theoretical and critical commentary on the subject. Following important decisions of the Supreme Court and other courts, large-scale changes have been made to the chapters on enrichment, at the expense of the claimant, mistake, claims against public authorities, and change of position. Additionally, this edition contains a new chapter on the operation of juridical bars on restitutionary claims. References to developments in other jurisdictions have been expanded for this edition, reflecting the significance of these changes and how they assist in the interpretation of English law and provide a basis for criticizing that law. Further, in the light of leading cases and the contributions of restitutionary scholars around the world, the author's views on specific controversial debates about the ambit, function, and interpretation of the subject have changed, sometimes radically. One significant aspect of the book remains unchanged: the book continues to focus on the identification and analysis of the principles which underpin the law of restitution as a whole, but with reference to its three distinct parts: unjust enrichment, restitution for wrongs, and the vindication of property rights. This approach provides the reader with a peerless guide to the law of restitution."--Publisher description.