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conversion

Defined in 7 dictionaries — Case Law, Ballentine's (1916), Black's (1910), Black's (1891), Stimson (1881), Burrill (1850), Bouvier (1839)

Definitions from Case Law

From 10 U.S. 226 - Vasse v. Smith · 1810Most cited · 14 citing opinions

This court has already stated its opinion to be, that an infant is chargeable with a conversion, although it be of goods which came lawfully to his possession.

Ballentine's Law Dictionary

James A. Ballentine · 1916

An unlawful exercise of dominion over, an intentional change in the nature or destruction of the chattel of another. See 24 Am. St. Rep. 795, note. Changing realty to personalty, or the reverse.

Black's Law Dictionary

Henry Campbell Black, M.A. · 1910

In equity. The transformation of one species of property into another, as money into land or land into money; or, more particularly, a fiction of law, by which equity assumes that such a transformation has taken place (contrary to the fact) when it is rendered necessary by the equities of the case,—as to carry into effect the directions of a will or settlement,—and by which the property so dealt with becomes invested with the properties and attributes of that into which it is supposed to have been converted. Seymour v. Freer, 8 Wall. 214, 19 L. Ed. 306; Haward v. Peavey, 128 III. 430, 21 N. E. 503, 15 Ain. St Rep. 120; Yerkes v. Yerkes, 200 Pa. 419, 50 AtL 186; Appeal of Clarke, 70 Conn. 195, 39 Atl. 155.

At law. An unauthorized assumption and exercise of the right of ownership over goods or personal chattels belonging to another, to the alteration of their condition or the exclusion of the owner's rights. Baldwin v. Cole, 6 Mod. 212; Trust Co. v. Tod, 170 N. Y. 233, 63 N. B. 285; Boyce v. Brockway, 31 N. Y. 490; University v. Bank, 96 N. C. 280, 3 S. E. 359; Webber v. Davis, 44 Me, 147, 69 Am. Dec. 87; Gilman v. Hill, 36 N. H. 311; Stough v. Stefani, 19 Neb. 468, 27 N. W. 445; Schroeppel v. Coming, 5 Denio (N. Y.) 236; Aschermann v. Brewing Co., 45 Wis. 266.

Constructive conversion. An implied or virtual conversion, which takes place where a person does such acts in reference to the goods of another as amount in law to the appropriation of the property to himself. Scruggs v. Scruggs (C. C.) 105 Fed. 28: Laverty v. Sneth-en, 68 N. Y. 524, 23 Am. Rep. 184.

A Dictionary of Law

Henry Campbell Black · 1891

In equity. The transformation of one species of property into another, as money into land or land into money; or, more particularly, a fiction of law, by which equity assumes that such a transformation has taken place (contrary to the fact) when it is rendered necessary by the equities of the case, — as to carry into effect the directions of a will or settlement, — and by which the property so dealt with becomes invested with the properties and attributes of that into which it is supposed to have been converted.

At law. An unauthorized assumption and exercise of the right of ownership over goods or personal chattels belonging to another, to the alteration of their condition or the exclusion of the owner's rights. 44 Me. 197; 36 N. H. 311; 45 Wis. 262. Conversion is defined to be an unauthorized assumption and exercise of the right of ownership over goods belonging to another to the exclusion of the owner's rights. A constructive conversion takes place when a person does such acts in reference to the goods of another as amount in law to appropriation of the property to himself. Every unauthorized taking of personal property, and all intermeddling with it, beyond the extent of the authority conferred, in case a limited authority has been given, with intent so to apply and dispose of it as to alter its condition or interfere with the owner's dominion, is a conversion. 68 N. Y. 24. "Conversion" and "carrying away" are not synonymous nor convertible terms. There may be a conversion without any carrying away. 26 Ala. 101.

Glossary of Technical Terms, Phrases, and Maxims of the Common Law

Frederic Jesup Stimson · 1881

1. Wrongful appropriation of one's own use. 2. In equity, that change in erty by which, for certain purposes, real estate personal, and personal estate as real, and scendible as such.

A New Law Dictionary and Glossary

Alexander M. Burrill · 1850

[Lat. conversio, from convertere, to turn towards.] An appropriation of property; one of the grounds of the action of trover. 3 Bl. Com. 152. 3 Steph. Com. 525. See Trover.

A Law Dictionary, Adapted to the Constitution and Laws of the United States

John Bouvier · 1839

torts, is the turning or applying the property of another to one’s own use. Whena party takes away or wrongfully assumes the right to goods which belong to another, it will in general be sufhcient evidence of a conversion; but when the original taking was lawful, as when the party found the goods, and the detension only is illegal, it is absolutely necessary to make a demand of the goods, and there must be a refusal to deliver them before the conversion will be complete. 1 Ch. Pr. 566; 2 Saund. 47 e, note; 1 Ch. Pl. 179; 6 Bac. Ab. 679; 1 Com. Dig. 439; 3 Com. Dig. 142; 1 Vin. Ab. 236; Yelv. 174, n.; 2 East, R. 405; 6 East, R. 540; 4 Taunt. 799; 5 Barn. & Cr. 149; 8S. C. 11 Eng. C. L. Rep. 185; 3 Bl. Com. 152.