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A CONVERSION CAUSE OF ACTION FOR ITEMS LAWFULLY IN DEFENDANT’S POSSESSION WILL NOT LIE UNLESS PLAINTIFF FIRST DEMANDED THEIR RETURN (FIRST DEPT).

The First Department, reversing (modifying) Supreme Court, determined some of plaintiff’s conversion allegations did not state a cause of action. Apparently plaintiff had created a website for defendant which included photographs, design and coding. Because the website, photographs, design and coding were lawfully in the possession of defendant, and plaintiff did not demand their return, conversion will not lie. Also, a conversion action cannot be based upon damages for breach of contract. However unpaid salary may be the subject of a conversion action:

… [D]efendants had lawful possession of the website that plaintiff had created for defendant The Front Row, as well as the photographs, design, and coding used on the website. Since plaintiff did not allege that she demanded return of those items, she cannot sustain her claim for conversion of the website, the design and coding for the website, and the photographs … . Plaintiff also cannot sustain the conversion claim for a $16,000 fee purportedly owed to her, since “an action for conversion cannot be validly maintained where damages are merely being sought for breach of contract” … .  Nonetheless, plaintiff has standing to assert a claim for conversion of an $8,000 monthly salary payment, because “[c]onversion is concerned with possession, not with title” … . Liegey v Gadeh, 2021 NY Slip Op 05461, First Dept 10-12-21

 

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