How Is Conversion Distinguishable From Detinue?

Generally, Conversion, Detinue, and Trespass to Chattels Involve Interference With Property. Conversion Involves Wrongful Removal of Property From the Rightful Person. Detinue Involves Failure to Return Property to the Rightful Person. Trespass to Chattels Involves Interference Such As Vandalism Without Interfering In Possession.

Understanding Tort Law Principles Involving Conversion, Trespass to Chattels, and Detinue, Including the Differences

Lawsuit Document Conversion, which is also often mistakenly called trespass to chattels, involves the wrongful interference with a mobile object of another.  Such object might be money (see: Wymor Construction Inc. v. Gray, [2012] O.J. 4181), goods, equipment, supplies, or other materially tangible things and possibly, as below, intangible things such as electronic data as information.

The Law

While conversion may be described using terms familiar to criminal law such as theft or robbery or burglary, and while conversion may occur by theft, robbery, or burglary, the tort of conversion may occur by other methods.  Additionally, while wrongfulness is an element of conversion, it is inaccurate to presume that the wrongfulness must include criminal or illicit intentions.  While conversion does require an element of intention, such intention may merely be an action that was an innocent intention; and accordingly, conversion falls within the family of torts known as the strict liability torts whereas even if the conversion, being the wrongful interference, was without nefarious or illicit intentions and purely with innocent intentions, liability may still result.  The tort of conversion was well articulated within the case of BMW Canada Inc. (Alphera Financial Services Canada) v. Mirzai, 2018 ONSC 180 which stated:


[17]  The tort of conversion involves the wrongful interference with the goods of another, such as taking, using or destroying those goods in a manner inconsistent with the owner’s right of possession: DaimlerChrysler Canada Inc.  v. Associated Bailiffs & Co.  Ltd., 2005 CanLII 24234 (ON SC).

[18]  The crux of the tort of conversion is the defendant committing a wrongful act with respect to the property.  Evidence must show or permit an inference to be drawn that the defendant acted in such a way as to deny the Plaintiffs title or possessory right.  (Simpson v. Gowers (1981)1981 CanLII 1884 (ON CA), 32 OR (2d) 385 (C.A.) at 387, per MacKinnon  A.  C.  J.  O.).

[19]  The tort is one of strict liability, and accordingly, it is no defence that the wrongful act was committed in all innocence.  The defendant cannot claim contributory negligence or some fault on the part of the plaintiff:  Boma Manufacturing Ltd.  V.  Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce, 1996 CanLII 149 (SCC), [1996] 3 SCR 727 at para.  31.  Diplock L.J.  asserted this principle in Marfani & Co.  v. Midland Bank, Ltd., [1968] 2 All E.R.  573, at pp.  577-78:

.  . .  the moral concept of fault in the sense of either knowledge by the doer of an act that is likely to cause injury, loss or damage to another, or lack of reasonable care to avoid causing injury, loss or damage to another, plays no part.

[20]  In Westboro Flooring and Decor Inc.  v. Bank of Nova Scotia, 2004 CanLII 59980 (ON CA), [2004] O.J.  No.  2464, the Court of Appeal confirmed that all that is required re intent is the defendant acts in a manner that is inconsistent with the owner’s title or possessory right, and any blameworthy conduct beyond that is not essential (at para.  14 – 16, per Simmons, J.A.).  The philosophy behind strict liability is that a defendant cannot use or convey anything which is no title to use or convey.

[21]  There are four essential elements for the tort of conversion.

i.   The defendant commits a wrongful act;

ii.   Involving the Plaintiff’s chattel;

iii.  By handling or disposing of the chattel;

iv. With the intention of denying or negating the Plaintiff’s title or other possessory interest.

Additional Helpful Principles

Further information as to what constitutes the tort of conversion, including jurisprudence regarding the nature of intention element may be found in AVS Transport Inc. v. van Ravenswaay et al., 2016 ONSC 3568 which says:


[16]  Conversion is an intentional tort committed when a defendant a) commits a wrongful act b) involving the Plaintiffs chattel, c) by handling or disposing of the chattel d) with the intention of denying or negating the Plaintiffs title or other possessory interest (see Fridman, law of torts in Canada (third).  Carswell; London, Ontario, 2010, page 118; Boma Manufacturing Ltd.  v. Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce, 1996 CanLII 149 (SCC), [1996] 3 S.C.R.  727 per Iacobucci, J., at para.  312934752 Canada Inc.  v. W.  Pickett & Bros Customs Brokers Inc., [1999] O.J.  No 5435, para.  30, per Archibald, J.; Pop N’Juice Inc.  v. 1203891 Ontario Ltd., [2004] O.J.  No.  3085 (Ontario S.C.J.) at para.  17 – 21, per Fedak, J.; and Daimler Chrysler Canada Inc.  v. Associated Bailiffs & Co.  [2005] O.J.  No.  2855 (Ont.  S.C.J.) para.  9, per Perell, J.).

[17]  A defendant, by using the Plaintiff’s goods or by giving or selling them to a third person, indicates the assertion of rights over the goods necessary for conversion.  (Toronto Dominion Bank Ltd.  v. Dearborn Motors Ltd.  (1968), 1968 CanLII 624 (BC SC), 64 WWR 577 (B.  C.  S.  C.) at 581 per Verchere, J.)

[18]  The crux of the tort of conversion is the Defendant committing a wrongful act with respect to the property.  Evidence must show or permit an inference to be drawn that the Defendant acted in such a way as to deny the Plaintiffs title or possessory right.  (Simpson v. Gowers (1981), 1981 CanLII 1884 (ON CA), 32 OR (2d) 385 (C.A.) at 387, per MacKinnon  A.  C.  J.  O.).

[19]  The “intent” to deny the Plaintiff’s title or possessory interest has been given broad meaning.  The most compelling at evidence by which a Defendant may deny Plaintiff’s title or possessory right is by selling it without having any personal right to do so (see Unisys Canada Inc.  v. Imperial Optical Company (1998) 43 C.C.L.T.  (2d) 286 (Ont.  Gen.Div.) at page 292 per Hoilett, J., aff’d 49 C.C.L.T.  (2d)  237 (C.A.).

[20]  Any time someone receives or disposes of a chattel without satisfying himself of its title, they acquire or dispose of the chattel at his/her own risk (see Battleford’s Credit Union LTD.  v. Korpam Tractor and Tarts Ltd.  (1983), 28 SASK.  R.  215 (Q.  B.) at (217, per Wimmer, J.).

[21]  Some cases have held that intent must be proved and if the defendant had no intention of depriving plaintiff of the benefit of the property or if no such inference can be drawn from the evidence, no conversion occurs (see Gasparetto v. Fizzard (1989), 1989 CanLII 1471 (NS SC), 99 N.  S.  R.  (2d) 29 TD, and Robertson v. Stang (1997), 38 C.  C.  L.  T.  (2d) 62 (B.  C.  S.  C.).  Fridman points out that in one case it has been held that the absence of fraud on the part of the defendant might excuse him (see Waite, Reid and Company Ltd.  v. Rodstrom (1967), 1967 CanLII 596 (BC SC), 62 D.  L.  R.  (2d) 661 (B.  C.  S.  C.) At 670 per Wilson C.  J.).

[22]  Fridman considers this case is an anomaly.  The weight of authority is to the contrary holding that innocence or lack of specific intention to defraud the Plaintiff is no defence.  Conversion is a strict liability tort (see Boma, supra., at para 31-32.).  The fact that the Defendant acted in good faith or innocently will not excuse the defendant (see Boma, supra, at para.  31Mutungih v. Bokun (2006), 40 C.C.L.T.  (3d) 313 (Ont.  S.C.) at p.  317 per Mungovin, J.).  As Fridman points out, “In case after case the innocence of the defendant in accepting money or goods has been held to be irrelevant to liability.  His good faith is immaterial.  His lack of knowledge of the rights of the plaintiff is not assisted him to escape liability.” (see: Fridman, supra at page 126, footnotes omitted).   In Westboro Flooring and Decor Inc.  v. Bank of Nova Scotia, 2004 CanLII 59980 (ON CA), [2004] O.J.  No.  2464, the Court of Appeal confirmed that all that is required re intent is the Defendant acts in a manner that is inconsistent with the owner’s title or possessory right, and any blameworthy conduct beyond that is not essential (at para.  14 – 16, per Simmons, J.A.).

[23]  The philosophy behind strict liability is that a defendant cannot use or convey anything which is no title to use or convey (see Fridman, supra, at page 127).  This is the practical expression of nemo dat quod non habet (one cannot give what one does not own).

[24]  Similarly, absent a statutory right, not only is the innocence of the defendant no defence, the defendant cannot claim contributory negligence or some fault on the part of the plaintiff (see Boma, supra, at 476).

As suggested in AVS Transport Inc., the issue as to whether conversion is an intentional tort or strict liability tort appears to remain somewhat debated; however, it does appear from the majority of the cited jurisprudence that most scholars view conversion as a strict liability tort.

Damages

Generally, when determining the damages applicable to a claim in conversion such will be based upon the actual value of the object converted at the time that the object was converted in a similar manner to that for the calculation of actual damages arising from other torts.  Per the BMW Canada Inc. case cited above:


[26]  In determining damages for the tort of conversion, the law as a fiction treats a conversion as resulting in a “forced sale” of the plaintiff’s chattel, requiring a defendant to pay the market value of the goods at the time of the conversion.

Valuing Intangible Concerns

Whether the object which is the subject to the tort of converion must be tangible or may include something intangible, such as data or information or even certain rights, is often debated within legal circles.  Clear case law confirming whether conversion applies to intangible things remains elusive; however, the precedent case of Boma Manufacturing Ltd. appears to provide some guidance whereas within the Supreme Court confirmed that the tort of conversion may apply to the wrongful negotiation of a banking cheque, whereas a banking cheque is merely a piece of paper that represents a financial instrument in accordance to the Bills of Exchange Act, R.S.C. 1985, c. B-4, and whereas the damages suffered for conversion of a banking cheque may be for the face value of the instrument rather than merely the physical value of the paper itself.  Accordingly, per Boma, the intangible aspects of a tangible thing may be the prominent basis for establishing damages.  specifically, the Supreme Court said:


37.  The drawer, the payee or the endorsee can bring an action for conversion of a cheque.  To make the claim for damages for conversion, the plaintiff must prove that he or she was either in actual possession or entitled to immediate possession of the chattel.  As Rafferty states in “Forged Cheques: A Consideration of the Rights and Obligations of Banks and Their Customers” (1979-1980), 4 C.B.L.J. 208, at p. 228, "[t]he conversion action, however, will lie only if the drawer is still the true owner of the cheque.  It must not have been issued to the payee" (Jervis B.  Webb Co. v. Bank of Nova Scotia (1965)1965 CanLII 626 (ON SC), 49 D.L.R. (2d) 692 (Ont. H.C.), and see for example Ontario Woodsworth Memorial Foundation v. Grozbord, 1969 CanLII 14 (SCC), [1969] S.C.R. 622).  The defendant's liability extends to the face value of the converted instrument, and is not limited to the value of the instrument as paper and ink (Norwich Union Fire Insurance Society Ltd. v. Banque Canadienne Nationale1934 CanLII 39 (SCC), [1934] S.C.R. 596).

Despite the Supreme Court addressing intangible concerns involving rights to money per the negotiability of a cheque as within the Boma case, the question as to whether intangibles, such as intellectual properties, are protected per the tort of conversion remains unsettled per the case of Tar Heel Investments Inc. v. H.L. Staebler Company Limited, 2022 ONCA 842, wherein it was said:


[18]  The tort of conversion “involves a wrongful interference with the goods of another, such as taking, using or destroying these goods in a manner inconsistent with the owner’s right of possession”: Boma Manufacturing Ltd. v. Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce, 1996 CanLII 149 (SCC), [1996] 3 S.C.R. 727, at p. 746. It is a tort of strict liability and it is no defence that the wrongdoer did not intend to convert the goods: Boma, at p. 746.

[19]  It is not settled whether intangible property such as the information in a book of business can be the subject of a conversion claim. Some trial courts have held that the tort does not apply to intangible property: see e.g., Del Giudice v. Thompson, 2021 ONSC 5379, at para. 172; appeal transferred to Ont. C.A., C70175; Mann Engineering Ltd. v. Desai, 2021 ONSC 7580, 22 B.L.R. (6th) 165, at para. 126Utilebill Credit Corporation v. Exit It Contract Consulting Inc., 2022 ONSC 2307, at paras. 22-24. Other trial courts have held that it can apply: see e.g., Brant Avenue Manor Ltd. Partnership v. Transamerica Life Insurance Co. of Canada (2000), 2000 CanLII 22368 (ON SC), 48 O.R. (3d) 363 (S.C.), at para. 13Canivate Growing Systems Ltd. v. Brazier, 2020 BCSC 232, at para. 71. There is no authoritative guidance from this court on the issue.

It seems confusing that rights to intangibles, such as the right to monies due as scribed upon a tangible cheque per Boma are protected by the tort of conversion and yet other intangibles, for example client data contained within a computer hard drive or even designs or information upon paper, would be without protection by the tort of conversion.  As an age old tort, existing from times of tangibles, it may now be time for the higher courts to confirm that all forms of intellectual properties are indeed protected by the tort of conversion.

Summary Comment

The torts of conversion, detinue, and trespass to chattels, all involve elements of wrongful intentional interference with chattels.  Furthermore, the wrongful intention may, be wrongful and intended in the nefarious or illicit sense; however, the wrongfulness and the intention may arise without a nefarious or illicit state of mind yet occur nonetheless; and accordingly, these torts are, generally, of the strict liability type without an availability of a defence based on lack of intention to cause illicit harm.  The interference is deemed intentional and wrongful merely by some form of positive act that results in the interference.  For example, should a farmer accidentally yet intentionally remove animals from the rightful owner, such as animals grazing on neighbouring farmland, due to confusion in identity of the animals, such an act would be intentional and wrongful despite the the lack of nefarious intentions; however, should the animals stroll without influence onto land of the farmer from a neighbouring farmer such an act would be without intention.  Of course, failure to return the animals upon a request to do so may then trigger an right of action in detinue; however, the wrongful intention at that point would be the interference by failure to return the animals rather than any wrongful act in how the animals initially came into possession.

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Further Reading
Encouraged

The torts of conversion, detinue, and trespass to chattels, are often confused whereas the lines between each can, and often do, cross depending on the circumstances.  Legal practitioners and scholars could spend hours discussing the various interplay between these various torts, among other torts.  As always, these pages provide merely a beginning.

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