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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 Missouri, 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 Missouri law. The criminal prosecution of theft aims to punish the offender and is handled by the state. The penalties for theft, which may include fines and imprisonment, are determined by the value of the stolen property and the circumstances of the crime. While criminal proceedings focus on punishment, victims of theft may pursue a civil lawsuit for conversion to recover their property or its value. It's important to note that the standards of proof differ between criminal and civil cases, with criminal cases requiring proof 'beyond a reasonable doubt' and civil cases requiring a 'preponderance of the evidence'.

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Civil litigation

conversion

Individual & Family Legal Plan

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Missouri State Code

Missouri State Code

Civil litigation

conversion

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