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Conversion
Conversion is when someone takes or uses your personal property in a way that completely denies your right to it, as if they owned it themselves.
What it actually is
It is a civil wrong where the defendant seriously interferes with your possession or ownership of personal property, such as by stealing, destroying, or refusing to return it. In a case, it appears as a claim where you seek monetary compensation for the full value of the property, not its return.
Why it matters in your case
It matters because, if proven, the other side may have to pay you the property’s value, even if they later try to give it back. You must show you had a right to possess the property and that the defendant acted intentionally enough to take control over it.
The common misunderstanding
People often confuse conversion with ordinary theft or borrowing. Unlike theft, conversion does not require intent to steal; even an honest mistake, like keeping someone’s delivered package, can be conversion if you seriously interfere with their rights.
Get the actual rule
Definitions are orientation; rules are authority
This page explains the concept. When it matters to your case, read the rule that governs it in your court — we hold Texas, federal and Washington court rules word for word, and every state's official resources are on the state pages. If someone cites a case at you, check that it exists first.
Related
Terms that travel with this one
General explanation, not legal advice, and not specific to any state — procedures and deadlines vary by jurisdiction and court. If you can get a lawyer or free legal aid, do: every real option.