DETINUE

detinue (det-i-nyoo or -noo). A common-law action to recover personal property wrongfully

taken by another. Cf. REPLEVIN; TROVER. [Cases: Detinue    1.C.J.S. Detinue § 1.]

“A claim in detinue lies at the suit of a person who has an immediate right to the possession

of the goods against a person who is in actual possession of them, and who, upon proper demand,

fails or refuses to deliver them up without lawful excuse. Detinue at the present day has two main

uses.  In  the  first  place,  the  plaintiff  may  desire  the  specific  restitution  of  his  chattels  and  not

damages for their conversion. He will then sue in  detinue, not in trover. In the second  place, the

plaintiff  will  have  to  sue  in  detinue  if  the  defendant sets  up  no  claim  of  ownership  and  has  not

been  guilty  of  trespass;  for  the  original  acquisition  in  detinue  sur  bailment  was  lawful.”  R.F.V.

Heuston, Salmond on the Law of Torts 111 (17th ed. 1977).

detinue of goods in frankmarriage.Hist. A writ allowing a divorced wife to obtain the goods

given to her during the marriage.

detinue sur bailment (det-i-nyoo s<<schwa>>r bayl-m<<schwa>>nt). [Law French] Hist. An

action to recover property that the defendant acquired by bailment but refuses to return. [Blacks Law 8th]