Cengage Advantage Books: Business Law 9th Edition by Arnold Goldman ,William Sigismond

Exercise 2

Sonnenburg and Hartnett were patients at an Indiana state mental hospital. Even though they were patients, they helped out with various duties at the institution, such as mowing the lawn, washing dishes, preparing meals, and performing office duties. They performed these duties on an ongoing basis even though they were repeatedly told by hospital personnel that they would not be paid for their services. Later, Sonnenburg and Hartnett changed their mind and decided to sue for services performed, claiming unjust enrichment on the part of the state. They claimed that it was only fair that they received compensation for their work. Should Sonnenburg and Hartnett be successful in a lawsuit based on unjust enrichment? (Bayh v. Sonnenburg, 573 N.E. 398)