Breach of contract and unjust enrichment claims generally arise from a party’s refusal to pay for services rendered. However, the type of claim that you would pursue in an Idaho court typically depends on your relationship to the party that acts in a negligent manner.
What is a breach of contract?
As the name implies, a breach of contract occurs when one party to the deal fails to live up to its obligations. For example, a homeowner might sign a contract requiring them to pay a painter $500 to complete the walls in a bedroom. If the painter is not paid in a timely manner, he or she may be able to take legal action to get what he or she is owed.
What is unjust enrichment?
Say that you were the painter who was hired to paint a person’s home. However, assume that you were hired by a construction company as opposed to the homeowner. If the client doesn’t pay the general contractor, you don’t have the ability to sue the property owner for breach of contract because that person’s agreement was with the party that hired you. However, you can sue the client for unjust enrichment because the customer still received a benefit from your work. Essentially, this serves as a way for parties who are indirectly harmed by a breach of contract to be made whole.
If you are harmed because a party fails to live up to its obligations, it may be possible to take legal action. In the event that you successfully prove that you were the victim of a breach of contract or unjust enrichment, you may be entitled to compensation and other forms of relief.
