37 A.D.2d 946 | N.Y. App. Div. | 1971
Order, Supreme Court, New York County, entered on April 5, 1971, insofar as appealed from, is unanimously reversed, on the law, and the defendants’ motion for summary judgment is granted and the complaint dismissed, as to defendants-appellants. Appellants shall recover of respondents $50 costs and disbursements of this appeal. The record reveals that the property allegedly converted by defendants was legally obtained pursuant to a levy by the Sheriff made to enforce a judgment in favor of defendant Mayer Malbin Co., Inc., rendered by the Civil Court. The property having been legally obtained by defendant initially, this conversion action can only be maintained upon a showing that there has been a demand for the property and that there has been a refusal to return such property. (See Apex Ribbon Co. v. Knitwear Supplies, 22 A D 2d 766, 767.) The record is barren of any facts to show a refusal to return the property. As stated in the Apex case (supra, p. 767), “ There is only a repetition of the conclusory allegation set forth in the complaint.” In contrast, the affidavit in support of the motion for summary