Conversion, Detinue, and Trespass to Chattels:

Question: In Ontario, when does wrongful interference with my personal belongings qualify as trespass to chattels?

Answer: In Ontario, trespass to chattels can apply when someone directly and immediately interferes with your possession or control of personal property (a “chattel”), such as a vehicle, household goods, artwork, moveable equipment, inventory, or even pets and livestock, without depriving you of possession like conversion or detinue typically do.   The core difference is that with trespass to chattels, the item generally remains with the rightful owner or person with rightful possession, while conversion/detinue more often involve deprivation of possession.   You may be able to claim damages for actual loss like devaluation of the item, and in appropriate cases seek general damages for troublesome or emotionally disruptive interference, plus punitive damages if the conduct was intentional or egregiously malicious.   For a quick case review and next steps, paralegal support through Forseti Legal Services is available at (705) 806-7577.

Add this website to Google Preferred Sources

Wrongful Interference With Personal Belongings

The tort of trespass to chattels involves wrongful interference with chattels whereas the legal definition of chattels involves personal property objects that are unattached to land; and accordingly, a chattel may include items such as automobiles, aircraft, watercraft, household furnishings, artwork, moveable machinery, goods or stock of commercial inventory, pets and livestock, among various other belongings.

Note: Please contact Forseti Legal Services by phone at: (705) 806-7577 to discuss any specific questions that you may have.

The Law

Trespass to chattels is similar to conversion and detinue whereas all three relate to wrongful interference with a chattel; however, the distinguishing nuance with trespass to chattels is that the object remains in possession or control of the owner or person with rightful possession which differs from conversion and detinue where the owner or person with rightful possession is deprived of possession.  Perhaps the easiest way to explain the difference is to use the criminal law term in that conversion or detinue may arise from theft (criminal law term) of the object, being interference by removing the chattel from the possession of the rightful owner or person with right of possession and trespass to chattels may arise from vandalism (criminal law term) being interference without removal of the chattel.

The elements necessary to give rise to the tort of trespass to chattels were well articulated in Ontario Consumers Home Services v. Enercare Inc., 2014 ONSC 4154, where it was stated:

Claimable Damages

Where chattels, such as an automobile as a personal belonging, or other thing, is harmed per the law of trespass to chattels, a lawsuit may make claim for the resulting actual loss suffered, meaning the devaluation of the object as a result of the harm to the object.  Furthermore, depending on the circumstances, especially where the trespass was troublesome and emotionally disruptive, general damages may be appropriate; and additionally, where the trespass was intentional or egregiously malicious, punitive damages may be applicable.

Conclusion

The tort of trespass to chattels is found within the family of interference torts which include, among others, the torts of conversion and detinue.  The key difference with the tort of trespass to chattels and the tort of conversion or the tort of detinue, is that with trespass to chattels, the chattels, meaning goods or personal belongings, remain with the rightful owner or person with rightful possession.