Legal Definitions - forced conversion

Forced conversion refers to the wrongful act of taking, using, or interfering with someone else's personal property without their consent, often under duress, coercion, or through unlawful means. This action deprives the rightful owner of their ability to possess or control that property. It is a civil wrong (a tort) that allows the owner to seek compensation for the value of the property that was wrongfully converted.

Here are some examples illustrating forced conversion:

• Example 1: Unlawful Seizure of Goods
  A small business owner rents a commercial space. After a dispute over a utility bill, the landlord, without a court order, changes the locks and threatens to sell the business owner's inventory and equipment unless an inflated "late fee" is paid immediately. Fearing the loss of their entire business, the owner reluctantly allows the landlord to take possession of valuable machinery as collateral.

  How it illustrates forced conversion: The landlord wrongfully took control of the business owner's personal property (machinery and inventory) under duress (threat of sale and lock-out) and without legal authority, thereby depriving the owner of their rightful possession and control.

• Example 2: Coerced Transfer of Ownership
  An elderly individual is pressured by a manipulative relative into signing over the title to their classic car. The relative falsely claims that the car is a financial burden and threatens to cut off all contact and care if the individual doesn't comply. Feeling isolated and dependent, the elderly person signs the title transfer documents.

  How it illustrates forced conversion: The relative used emotional coercion and false pretenses to compel the elderly individual to transfer ownership of their personal property (the car), which constitutes a wrongful exercise of dominion over that property against the owner's true will.

• Example 3: Duress Over Digital Assets
  A software developer is working on a personal project using their own computer. Their former employer, upon termination, demands that the developer immediately hand over their personal laptop, threatening to withhold their final paycheck and severance package if they do not comply and allow the company to "extract all relevant data," even though much of the data is personal. The developer, needing the final payment, reluctantly surrenders the laptop.

  How it illustrates forced conversion: The employer used financial leverage to compel the developer to surrender control and access to their personal property (the laptop and its digital contents), which is a wrongful exercise of dominion over the developer's personal assets under duress.