Opinion ID: 1778476
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 8

Heading: whether there is sufficient proof of a conversion claim.

Text: ¶ 20. In Mississippi Motor Finance, Inc. v. Thomas, 246 Miss. 14, 149 So.2d 20 (1963), this Court set out the elements of conversion as follows: To make out a conversion, there must be proof of a wrongful possession, or the exercise of a dominion in exclusion or defiance of the owner's right, or of an unauthorized and injurious use, or of a wrongful detention after demand. Sivils v. Aldridge, 62 Okla. 89, 162 P. 198. PACCAR Financial Corp. v. Howard, 615 So.2d 583, 587 (Miss.1993)( quoting Mississippi Motor Fin., 246 Miss. at 20, 149 So.2d at 23). In other words, conversion requires the intent to exercise dominion or control over goods inconsistent with the true owner's right. Walker v. Brown, 501 So.2d 358, 361 (Miss. 1987). ¶ 21. In the case sub judice, the trial judge opined that Franklin Funds delivered the proceeds to Raymond James Inc., Lucille Smith's agent, and thus, there was no conversion. Smith contends that Bernie III had no authority to liquidate her securities in Franklin Funds and therefore conversion occurred when Franklin Funds liquidated the securities and sent Raymond James, Inc. a check. The real issue here is whether Bernie III had authority to liquidate the Smiths' securities in Franklin Funds. If the Smiths gave Bernie III this authority, then Franklin Funds did not convert the Smiths' property. However, if he did not have this authority, then Franklin Funds may be guilty of conversion. The record reflects that in another civil suit Lucille Smith admitted in her deposition that it was generally permissible for Bernie III to liquidate her securities. However, in a sworn affidavit submitted to the trial court on the fourteenth of May, Smith states that Bernie III did not have the authority to liquidate her securities in Franklin Funds. Clearly, whether Bernie III had authority to liquidate these securities is a question of fact to be resolved at trial. Thus, we find that the trial judge should have allowed a jury to make this determination.