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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 Georgia, 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 Georgia 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 misdemeanors to felonies, depend on the value of the stolen property and the circumstances of the crime. While the criminal process does not primarily focus on the recovery of stolen property for the victim, Georgia law does allow for restitution to be ordered as part of a criminal sentence. However, victims seeking to recover their property or its value often pursue a separate civil action for conversion to directly address their loss.

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Civil litigation

conversion

Individual & Family Legal Plan

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Georgia State Code

Georgia State Code

Civil litigation

conversion

Articles