A trespass to personal property is t he use of someone's property without person. A conversion occurs when personal property is taken by a defendant and kept from its true owner without permission of the owner. Conversion is the civil side of the crime of theft.
Wyoming Instruction to Jury that Unauthorized Sale of Personal Property can Constitute Conversion: Conversion is a legal term that refers to the act of wrongfully depriving someone of their personal property by exercising control and dominion over it without permission. In the state of Wyoming, there are specific instructions that a jury must be given when determining whether an unauthorized sale of personal property constitutes conversion. One type of instruction that applies to this situation is the instruction on the definition of conversion. The jury must be informed that conversion occurs when a person intentionally or recklessly exercises control over someone else's personal property without their consent. This control can manifest in various forms, such as selling, altering, destroying, or refusing to return the property. Another instruction in Wyoming's jury instructions is the requirement to consider the unauthorized sale as a potential conversion. It emphasizes that if the jury finds that the defendant sold the plaintiff's personal property without proper authorization, it may constitute conversion. This instruction is crucial in cases where the defendant may have engaged in the sale of the plaintiff's property without lawful ownership or permission. Furthermore, the jury might receive supplementary instructions that address the elements of conversion. These instructions may focus on factors such as the defendant's intent to exercise control over the property, the plaintiff's right to possess the property, and whether the defendant's actions substantially interfered with the plaintiff's ownership rights. Additionally, if there are any specific laws or regulations that apply to the unauthorized sale of personal property, the jury would be instructed on them. For example, Wyoming may have statutes that address the sale of stolen goods or the sale of property obtained through fraud, and the jury must consider these legal provisions when determining if conversion has occurred. Overall, when a jury is determining whether an unauthorized sale of personal property constitutes conversion in Wyoming, they must carefully consider the instructions provided to them. These instructions help guide their evaluation of the defendant's actions, the plaintiff's rights, and any relevant legal provisions specific to the case at hand.
