Conversion

Lanbuk on the Law of Torts · 1722

Principle established: A finder has a right to the thing against everyone except the true owner.

Sierra Leone — African Law Reports · 1950-56

Principle established: A writ of possession requires proof of service and disobedience, and execution executed without lawful authority constitutes a tort where damages are assessed as against a private wrongdoer.

Sierra Leone — African Law Reports · 1950-56

Principle established: Where an execution is conducted without lawful authority so as to constitute a trespass or conversion, damages are assessed against the wrongdoer without regard to any official capacity.

Sierra Leone — Court of Appeal · 1952

Principle established: Where execution of process is wholly unauthorised and wrongful, it constitutes trespass or conversion, and damages are assessed as though the wrongdoer acted without official character.

Lanbuk on the Law of Torts · 1841

Principle established: Conversion requires a dealing that denies the owner's title or seriously interferes with his rights. A minor interference is only trespass.

Lanbuk on the Law of Torts · 1963

Principle established: In detinue, the court may order (a) the value of the goods and damages, (b) return of the goods or their value, or (c) return of the goods and damages for detention.

Lanbuk on the Law of Torts · 1875

Principle established: Conversion is strict. Honestly dealing with goods in a way that denies the true owner's title is still conversion.

Sierra Leone — African Law Reports · 1950-56

Principle established: The measure of damages in an action for conversion is the full value of the chattel at the date of the conversion.

Sierra Leone — African Law Reports · 1967-68

Principle established: Damages for detinue of a chattel used in a profitable business include both the cost of hiring a replacement and compensation for any consequent loss of business.

Sierra Leone — Supreme Court · 1967

Principle established: The measure of damages for wrongful detention of a profit-earning chattel covers the hire cost of a substitute machine and any proven loss of profits resulting from its diminished capacity.

Lanbuk on the Law of Torts · 1876

Principle established: Any direct and unjustified interference with goods in another's possession is trespass, even moving them a short distance with good motives.

Lanbuk on the Law of Torts · 2002

Principle established: Conversion is a deliberate dealing with goods that is inconsistent with the owner's rights, so as to deprive him of the use or possession of them.

Lanbuk on the Law of Torts · 1982

Principle established: An occupier only has a better right than a finder of goods lying loose on the premises if he clearly showed an intention to control the premises and things in it.