KembaraXtra - Case Law - Grainger v Hill (1838)
Court: English Court (pre-November 1874)
Key Areas: Tort Law (Conversion, Trespass to Person), Criminal Law (Arrest), Sheriffs & Bailiffs (Execution of Process)
I. Conversion (Wrongful Interference with Goods)

• A. Wrongful Taking as Conversion:
  • A wrongful taking of a chattel constitutes conversion.
  • No prior demand is required to bring an action for conversion when a wrongful taking has occurred.
  • A wrongful taking is sufficient to support a count in trover.
• B. Demand and Refusal:
  • Demand and refusal are unnecessary where the act itself amounts to conversion (i.e., actual taking of goods).

II. Arrest & False Imprisonment (Trespass to the Person)

• A. What Constitutes Arrest:
  • Placing a party under the restraint of a sheriff’s officer holding a writ of capias constitutes an arrest.
  • Actual physical contact is NOT necessary for an arrest to occur.
• B. Restraint as Imprisonment:
  • This falls under False or Illegal Imprisonment.

III. Relevant Torts

• A. Trespass to the Person:
  • False or Illegal Imprisonment
• B. Wrongful Interference with Goods:
  • Conversion

IV. Malicious Prosecution (Mentioned in Catchwords)

• A. Abuse of Process:
  • Abusing process of law to effect an improper object
  • Proceedings must terminate in the plaintiff's favour