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Civil litigation

conversion

Conversion (theft) is generally the cause of action/claim for which a party whose property has been stolen may file a civil lawsuit to recover the stolen property or its value. Theft is also prosecuted as a crime, but the object of a criminal prosecution is generally to punish the wrongdoer, rather than to seek recovery of the lost property.

In Florida, conversion is a civil cause of action that allows a person whose property has been wrongfully taken or retained to seek recovery of their property or its monetary value from the party responsible for the conversion. This is distinct from theft, which is prosecuted as a crime under Florida law. The criminal prosecution of theft aims to punish the offender and is handled by the state. The penalties for theft, which can range from misdemeanor to felony charges, depend on the value and type of property stolen. While criminal courts focus on penalizing the wrongdoer, victims of theft may pursue civil remedies through a conversion claim to recover their property or its value. It's important to note that the civil action for conversion is separate from the criminal proceedings and is initiated by the victim, who may also be entitled to damages beyond the value of the property, such as punitive damages, if the conduct of the wrongdoer was particularly egregious.

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Civil litigation

conversion

Individual & Family Legal Plan

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Florida State Code

Florida State Code

Civil litigation

conversion

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