Opinion ID: 2260822
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 6

Heading: Does a claim for conversion of a deceased human body or its parts exist under Nevada law?

Text: A claim for conversion of a deceased human body or its parts does not exist under Nevada law. Conversion is defined as a distinct act of dominion wrongfully exerted over another's personal property in denial of, or inconsistent with his title or rights therein or in derogation, exclusion, or defiance of such title or rights. Evans v. Dean Witter Reynolds, Inc., 116 Nev. 598, 606, 5 P.3d 1043, 1048 (2000) (internal quotations omitted). Thus, the essential question before us is whether a deceased human body or its parts is personal property in order to support a claim for conversion. Consistent with the majority of jurisdictions that have addressed this issue, we cannot conclude that there is a property right in a deceased human body or its remains. See, e.g., Shults v. U.S., 995 F.Supp. 1270, 1275-76 (D.Kan.1998) (construing that Mississippi law did not support a claim for conversion and noting that the partial remains of a human body[ ] has no compensable value); Culpepper v. Pearl Street Bldg., Inc., 877 P.2d 877, 882 (Colo.1994) (We formally reject the fictional theory that a property right exists in a dead body that would support an action for conversion.); Walser v. Resthaven, 98 Md.App. 371, 633 A.2d 466, 477 (Md. Ct.Spec.App.1993). [8] Concluding otherwise may create morbid consequences, setting up an incentive for the person with the right to the disposition of the body to sell his or her loved one's remains for profit. We therefore answer this question, in the negative and conclude that Nevada law does not recognize a claim for conversion of a deceased human body or its parts. We therefore answer the certified questions as set forth above. We concur: HARDESTY, DOUGLAS, CHERRY, SAITTA, GIBBONS and PICKERING, JJ.