What is the legal definition of the tort of conversion?

The tort of conversion is legally defined as the unauthorized taking or use of personal property, effectively depriving the owner of their rights to that property. This definition encompasses situations where someone takes or uses another person's belongings without permission, regardless of whether they intend to permanently deprive the owner of it.

Option B accurately captures this definition by specifying that it involves the unauthorized taking of personal property for the use of the taker. This is central to conversion, highlighting the element of unauthorized use that is characteristic of the tort. For example, if someone borrows a friend's laptop without asking and uses it as their own, that could constitute conversion.

The other options misinterpret the specific nature of conversion. Option A is incorrect because it refers to real estate, whereas conversion specifically addresses personal property. Option C narrows the scope too much by talking only about borrowing art for exhibition, rather than addressing broader instances of unauthorized use of personal property. Lastly, option D fails to align with the specific requirements of conversion; legal possession without consent does not inherently suggest the taking or using of property, which is crucial to establishing this tort.