What level of intent is required to satisfy conversion?

To establish a claim for conversion, the essential requirement is the intent to exercise control over the chattel. This means that the defendant must have intended to take possession of someone else's property or to exercise dominion over it without the owner's consent. This intent does not necessarily require a malicious motive or a desire to cause harm; rather, it is sufficient that the individual acted with the purpose of asserting control over the item in question, which can occur irrespective of whether the individual intended to damage the property or mislead the owner.

A key aspect of conversion is that once control is asserted, it must interfere with the rightful owner's ability to use and possess the property, thus allowing the owner to claim damages. This control can manifest in various ways, such as taking, using, or altering the property, and as long as the intent to exercise such control exists, conversion may be established.

In contrast, the other options do not encapsulate the essence of what is required for a conversion claim. Damage to property or intent to mislead the owner does not fulfill the necessary criteria for conversion. Additionally, a desire to transform the property for personal use can imply an intent to exercise control, but it is not an exclusive requirement for conversion, reinforcing the centrality