Legal Definitions - adverse dominion

Adverse dominion refers to the unlawful exercise of control or authority over someone else's property, resulting in the true owner being dispossessed. This can occur in a variety of contexts, including torts and property law.

One example of adverse dominion is when someone takes possession of another person's car without their permission and refuses to return it. This is considered conversion, which is a type of tort that involves the wrongful taking or use of someone else's property.

Another example of adverse dominion is when someone occupies a piece of land that belongs to someone else and claims ownership over it. If they continue to use and maintain the land for a certain period of time, they may be able to claim adverse possession, which is a legal doctrine that allows someone to acquire ownership of property through continuous and open use.

These examples illustrate how adverse dominion can result in the true owner of property being deprived of their rights and control over their possessions. It is important to respect the property rights of others and not engage in actions that could be considered adverse dominion.