Legal Definitions - not possessed

Definition: Not possessed. In common-law pleading, it refers to a defendant's plea denying possession of the items that are claimed to have been converted.

Example: In a case of trover, if a person is accused of converting someone else's property, they may plead "not possessed" as a defense, claiming that they never had possession of the property in question.

Explanation: This defense is used in cases where the defendant is accused of converting someone else's personal property. By pleading "not possessed," the defendant is denying that they ever had possession of the property and therefore could not have converted it. This defense is commonly used in cases of trover, which is a legal action for the recovery of damages for the conversion of personal property.