Full question:
My ex-boyfriend and I shared storage space while I was deployed. Now I am back, and he won't return my property. Items include a Television, Lazy boy, and about 200 DVDs. He's avoiding my emails and phone calls. He lives in Fort Polk, Louisiana. How can I make him give me my stuff back?
- Category: Civil Actions
- Subcategory: Conversion
- Date:
- State: Georgia
Answer:
If your ex-boyfriend is refusing to return your property, you may consider a legal action called conversion. This is a civil court action to recover the value of personal items wrongfully taken by another person. If the items are unique and cannot be easily replaced with money, you might seek a writ of replevin, which is a court order to return specific items.
In civil cases, the venue is typically where the defendant lives or where the issue occurred. You need to serve a complaint to the defendant, and the court must have personal jurisdiction over him. This means he must have sufficient connections to the state where you file the lawsuit. For example, if he has a business in the state, that may establish jurisdiction.
If you believe your property was taken with the intent to deprive you of it, you could also file a theft complaint with the local police. Sometimes, police can help negotiate the return of your property without needing to file formal charges.
This content is for informational purposes only and is not legal advice. Legal statutes mentioned reflect the law at the time the content was written and may no longer be current. Always verify the latest version of the law before relying on it.