What is required for a defendant to be liable for conversion?

For a defendant to be liable for conversion, it is essential that the defendant deprives the plaintiff of possession of their chattel. Conversion is a tort that occurs when someone intentionally interferes with a person’s right to their personal property, to such an extent that the property is either damaged, destroyed, or the rightful owner is unable to possess it.

The act of depriving someone of their property can occur in various forms, such as outright theft, but it can also include actions that prevent the owner from accessing their property or using it as they see fit. This principle is grounded in the idea of protecting the owner's right to their property. Therefore, fulfilling this requirement establishes a clear link between the defendant's actions and the harm experienced by the plaintiff.

In contrast to the other choices, they lack the essential element of direct deprivation of property ownership or possession—merely intending to damage property, acting negligently, or having possessed the property at some point does not suffice on its own to establish liability for conversion. The focus is specifically on the act of depriving the plaintiff of their chattel, which is a fundamental aspect of the tort of conversion.