An action where a person claims the specific return of goods or the value of goods wrongfully detained• Goods - miscellaneous
One of the common law forms of action, detinue was used to recover chattels from one who has acquired possession of them. Whereas conversion actions are instituted when the plaintiff seeks to recover damages, detinue actions are instituted to obtain recovery of the property itself. It was commonly used to recover slaves.
Remedy to seek damage relief in property or money.
A common law action involving the possession of property by the defendant but belonging to the plaintiff, asking the court for the return of the property. The plaintiff may also ask for damages for the duration of the possession. See also "conversion".
In tort law, detinue is an action for the wrongful detention of goods. It is initiated by an individual who claims to have a greater right to their immediate possession than the current possessor. For an action in detinue to succeed, a claimant must first prove that he had better right to possession of the chattel than the defendant; and second, that the defendant refused to return the chattel once demanded by the claimant.