§ 99A-1. Recovery of damages for interference with property rights. - North Carolina Statutes

Chapter99A.

Civil Remedies for CriminalActions.

§ 99A‑1.  Recovery ofdamages for interference with property rights.

Notwithstanding any otherprovisions of the General Statutes of North Carolina, when personal property iswrongfully taken and carried away from the owner or person in lawful possessionof such property without his consent and with the intent to permanently deprivehim of the use, possession and enjoyment of said property, a right of actionarises for recovery of actual and punitive damages from any person who has orhas had, possession of said property knowing the property to be stolen.

An agent having possession,actual or constructive, of property lawfully owned by his principal, shall havea right of action in behalf of his principal for any unlawful interference withthat possession by a third person.

In cases of bailments wherethe possession is in the bailee, a trespass committed during the existence ofthe bailment shall give a right of action to the bailee for the interferencewith his special property and a concurrent right of action to the bailor forthe interference with his general property.

Any abuse of, or damage doneto, the personal property of another or one who is in possession thereof,unlawfully, is a trespass for which damages may be recovered. (1973,c. 809.)