What constitutes "unjust enrichment" under Ohio law?

Unjust enrichment under Ohio law occurs when one party benefits at the expense of another in a manner that is deemed unjust or inequitable. This principle is rooted in the idea that it is fundamentally wrong for a person to retain a benefit without providing reasonable compensation or justification to the party who conferred that benefit. For instance, if an individual mistakenly receives a benefit from another, such as money or services, and it would be unfair for them to keep it without compensating the other party, then unjust enrichment may be established.

In such cases, the law seeks to prevent individuals from profiting from situations where they have taken advantage of someone else’s contributions or losses. This recognition forms the basis for legal actions aimed at recovering benefits conferred by one party onto another under circumstances that warrant compensation.