Meehan v. Cheltenham Township
Meehan v. Cheltenham Township
Opinion of the Court
Opinion by
In compliance with The First Class Township Code,
After unsuccessfully attempting to establish a mechanic’s lien on the improvements, appellant brought this action in equity claiming that appellee had been unjustly enriched in the amount of $17,095.13, the value of the materials and labor expended by appellant. Appellee raised two objections to the complaint: (1) that equity had no jurisdiction because an adequate remedy existed at law; and (2) that the complaint failed to state a cause of action. The court below held that equity did have jurisdiction but agreed with appellee that no cause of action was stated and dismissed the complaint. This appeal followed.
The court below held that this action was cognizable in equity rather than in law because the equitable principle of unjust enrichment was involved. This reasoning overlooks the fact that law courts can and do apply equitable principles so long as the remedy sought
The fact that appellee, who obtained the judgment below, has now acquiesced in the equitable jurisdiction of the lower court does not prevent us from raising the defect. Jones v. Amsel, 388 Pa. 47, 130 A. 2d 119 (1957); Gordon, Secretary of Banking v. Biesinger, 335 Pa. 1, 6 A. 2d 425 (1939). However, since the procedure upon transfer to the law side would be identical with that below, we will decide the case on the merits in order to terminate this litigation.
Where one party has been unjustly enriched at the expense of another, he is required to make restitution to the other. In order to recover, there must be both (1) an enrichment, and (2) an injustice resulting if recovery for the enrichment is denied. See Bailis v. Reconstruction Finance Corporation, 128 F. 2d 857 (3d Cir. 1942); Restatement, Restitution §1, comment a (1936). Appellant alleges that appellee has been enriched by the acquisition of a sewer and road system which has enlarged its revenues through rents from the use of the sewers and increased real estate taxes on the improved lands. Appellant concludes that “the Township cannot in justice refuse to compensate appellant for the fair market value of the same.” This basis for recovery misconceives both the role of appellee in the construction of the improvements, and also the nature of the unjust enrichment doctrine.
Moreover, even if the enrichment of appellee were established, there would be no recovery in this case. As noted above, the mere fact that one party benefits from the act of another is not of itself sufficient to justify restitution. There must also be an injustice in permitting the benefit to be retained without compensation.
The Restatement of Restitution sets forth various rules for the determination of whether the retention of a particular enrichment is unjust. Section 110 deals with the situation where a third party benefits from a contract entered into between two other parties. It
The same reasons which preclude recovery in the Restatement illustration are applicable to appellant’s cause of action. In contracting to perform the services in question, appellant relied solely on the financial credit of Novak. Appellee in no way induced appellant to enter into this relationship. In such a situation, appellant cannot shift the loss resulting from its error in judgment to one who may have been indirectly benefited by the performance of these services.
Since we conclude that appellant is not entitled to relief under the general principles of restitution, we need not examine the additional problem presented by the fact that such relief is being sought here against a municipal corporation. See Luzerne Township v. Fayette County, 330 Pa. 247, 199 Atl. 327 (1938); see also Tooke, Quasi-Contractual Liability of Municipal Corporations, 47 Harv. L. Rev. 1143 (1934).
Decree affirmed.
Act of May 31, 1947, P. L. 362, §3066, as amended 53 P.S. §58066. In pursuance of this provision, appellee has enacted a Land Subdivision Ordinance.
“The principles by which a person is entitled to restitution are the same whether the proceeding is one at law or in equity. . . .” Restatement, Restitution, Introductory Note at 4 (1936).
The court below relied upon Zurich General Accident and Liability Insurance Company, Ltd. v. Klein, 181 Pa. Superior Ct. 48, 121 A. 2d 893 (1956), to sustain its jurisdiction. But in that case, equity’s assumption of jurisdiction was not questioned.
See supra note 1. In its complaint, appellant also alleged that its loss resulted from appellee’s failure to secure a bond from Novak as required by the Township Code. This argument has not been pressed on appeal since the bond is for the protection of the township against non-completion by the contractor, and thus does not aid subcontractors who have already performed work for the contractor.
Where the value of the benefit differs from the amount of the loss, and the recipient is free from fault, the amount of recovery is generally limited by the value of the benefit. See Restatement, Restitution §1, comment e (1936).
The example assumes that “C” did not retain a security interest in the ring.
We are concerned in this opinion, of course, only with the restitutionary remedies of the subcontractor and not with other possible remedies such as the establishment of a mechanic’s lien.
Concurring Opinion
Concurring Opinion by
I have several times expressed my strong opposition to the unjust enrichment doctrine and its adoption in
Dissenting Opinion
Dissenting Opinion by
I am in full agreement with the concluding sentence of the concurring opinion that “plaintiffs’ equitable and moral claim” should be paid by the township. Since the majority opinion denied recovery, I therefore dissent.
Reference
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- Meehan, Appellant, v. Cheltenham Township
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