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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 Michigan, 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 a criminal offense prosecuted by the state. The primary goal of a criminal prosecution for theft is to punish the offender, rather than to compensate the victim for their loss. However, victims of theft in Michigan may also be entitled to restitution as part of the criminal process, which is a court-ordered payment from the defendant to the victim for the loss suffered. 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 proof 'beyond a reasonable doubt'. An attorney can help navigate both the civil action for conversion and the criminal justice process to address theft.

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Civil litigation

conversion

Individual & Family Legal Plan

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Michigan State Code

Michigan State Code

Civil litigation

conversion

Articles