27-1-320. Conversion of personal property. (1) The detriment caused by the wrongful conversion of personal property is presumed to be:
(a) the value of the property at the time of its conversion with the interest from that time or, when the action has been prosecuted with reasonable diligence, the highest market value of the property at any time between the conversion and the verdict without interest, at the option of the injured party; and
(b) a fair compensation for the time and money properly expended in pursuit of the property.
(2) The presumption declared by subsection (1) cannot be rebutted in favor of one whose possession was wrongful from the beginning by that person's subsequent application of the property to the benefit of the owner without the owner's consent.
History: (1)En. Sec. 4333, Civ. C. 1895; re-en. Sec. 6071, Rev. C. 1907; re-en. Sec. 8689, R.C.M. 1921; Cal. Civ. C. Sec. 3336; Field Civ. C. Sec. 1863; re-en. Sec. 8689, R.C.M. 1935; Sec. 17-404, R.C.M. 1947; (2)En. Sec. 4334, Civ. C. 1895; re-en. Sec. 6072, Rev. C. 1907; re-en. Sec. 8690, R.C.M. 1921; Cal. Civ. C. Sec. 3337; Field. Civ. C. Sec. 1864; re-en. Sec. 8690, R.C.M. 1935; Sec. 17-405, R.C.M. 1947; R.C.M. 1947, 17-404, 17-405; amd. Sec. 6, Ch. 12, L. 1979; amd. Sec. 568, Ch. 56, L. 2009.
Structure Montana Code Annotated
Title 27. Civil Liability, Remedies, and Limitations
Chapter 1. Availability of Remedies -- Liability
27-1-301. Prescribed damages exclusive of exemplary damages and interest
27-1-302. Damages to be reasonable
27-1-303. Limitation of damages for breach of obligation
27-1-304. Value of written instrument
27-1-305. Property of peculiar value
27-1-306. When replacement value to be allowed
27-1-310. Damages for emotional or mental distress prohibited in contract actions -- exception
27-1-312. Breach of obligation to pay money
27-1-313. Breach of warranty of agent's authority
27-1-314. Breach of agreement to convey real property
27-1-315. Breach of agreement to buy real property
27-1-316. Breach of covenants in grants of estates in real property
27-1-317. Breach of obligation other than contract
27-1-318. Wrongful occupation of real property
27-1-319. Willful holding over of real property
27-1-320. Conversion of personal property
27-1-321. Conversion of personal property -- damages of lienholder