Torts: Intentional Torts: Trespass to Chattels and Conversion

Trespass to Chattels and Conversion – both involve intentional interference with personal property.

• Chattels = personal property (all your stuff, except land and buildings).
• Interference with personal property: deliberate damage or depriving you of possession.
• Private, money damage remedies for theft and vandalism.
• The difference is the magnitude of the harm.
• If modest harm, small harm = trespass to chattels
• If degree of harm is significant, extensive = conversion (electronic records)
• Conversion remedy for P = full market value, not simply the cost of repair. (you break it, you bought it)
• Trespass to Chattels remedy: cost of repair.