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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 Maryland, 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 Maryland 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 any prior offenses. While the criminal process can result in restitution orders to compensate victims, the primary goal is punitive. Victims seeking to recover their property or its value may find a civil action for conversion to be a more direct means of obtaining relief. It's important to note that the standards of proof differ between civil and criminal cases, with civil cases requiring a 'preponderance of the evidence' and criminal cases requiring 'beyond a reasonable doubt'.

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Civil litigation

conversion

Individual & Family Legal Plan

Articles

Maryland State Code

Civil litigation

conversion

Maryland State Code

Articles