What is the objective of restitution as a legal remedy?

Restitution as a legal remedy aims to restore a person to their original position before a certain event occurred, particularly in cases where they have suffered a loss due to another party's actions. This remedy focuses on preventing unjust enrichment, which means that one party should not benefit at the expense of another without compensating them for their loss.

In situations such as breach of contract, torts, or certain equitable claims, restitution serves to return the injured party to their pre-loss state, thereby ensuring fairness and equity. This can involve returning specific property, compensating for monetary losses, or providing other forms of value that reflect what the injured party lost.

While punishment of the wrongdoer addresses accountability and deterrence, that is not the primary objective of restitution. Similarly, ceasing ongoing legal disputes is more aligned with settlement or alternative dispute resolution rather than with the principle of restitution itself. Enforcing contractual obligations is fundamentally connected to enforcing the terms of agreements rather than addressing past losses and ensuring compensation or restoration.