124 Wis. 567 | Wis. | 1905
The houseboat mentioned is not here in controversy. Counsel for the defendants concede that after they seized the houseboat as the property of WTieeler, as mentioned, it was replevied by the plaintiff, and that eleven days after such seizure it was found to be the property of the plaintiff in this action, and so was turned over to him by the defendants. The controversy here relates entirely to the articles of personal property belonging to the plaintiff and inside of the houseboat at the time of such seizure.
“But if the man in charge of the boat knew that the plaintiff was the owner, or if at that time he was so informed by the plaintiff, and if the custodian then forbade the plaintiff to take the property in suit, such denial of the plaintiff’s right was a denial by the defendants, and amounted to an assertion on their part of the control or dominion over this-property, and was a conversion of it, in the law; and, if you find that such was the fact, then the plaintiff is entitled to-recover of the defendants the full value of his property which was removed by them from the houseboat, unless you are satisfied that at a later date they offered to return to him the property, or offered to permit him to take it, and that it was-then in substantially as good condition as it was in just before it was removed from the houseboat.”
“It may be stated as a general rule that every act of control or dominion over personal property without the owner’s-authority, and in disregard and violation of his rights, is, in contemplation of law, a conversion.” 28 Am. & Eng. Ency. of Law (2d ed.) 679. The decisions of this court are in harmony with such statement. Dexter v. Cole, 6 Wis. 319 ; Thomas v. Steele, 22 Wis. 207; Dunham v. Converse, 28 Wis. 306 ,Tobin v. Deal, 60 Wis. 87, 18 N. W. 634; Brickley v. Walker, 68 Wis. 563, 32 N. W. 773; Boldewahn v. Schmidt, 89 Wis. 444, 62 N. W. 177; LaChapelle v. W. & B. S. Co. 95 Wis. 518, 70 N. W. 589; Cernahan v. Chrisler, 107 Wis. 645, 647, 648, 83 N. W. 778. As stated in this last case by way of quotation from Cooley on Torts: “Any distinct act of dominion wrongfully exerted over one’s property in denial of his right, or inconsistent with it, is a conversion.” As said in that case by Mr. Justice BaRdeeh, the test is whether the wrongdoer has exercised a dominion over the property in exclusion or in defiance of the plaintiffls rights. We must hold that there was no error in giving the instruction quoted.
2. We cannot say that the verdict of the jury is not sus
3. Error is assigned because tbe court charged tbe jury upon this last phase of tbe evidence to tbe effect tbat if tbe jury were satisfied by tbe evidence tbat the property bad in tbe meantime been materially injured by rain or otherwise, or tbat it bad been in part earned away by persons unknown, then tbe plaintiff was not bound to accept such offer of return, but tbat in such case be was entitled to recover tbe fair
4. There is no ground for the contention that the damages are excessive.
By the Court. — The judgment of the circuit court is affirmed.