criminal-law civil-law
Could an employee be held liable for taking parts meant for another assembly line?
<p>If foreman A of assembly line AA took parts meant for a different assembly line BB for their own crews to use, which would help them meet their production quota but hurt foreman B and their crew, could A be held liable in a civil action or criminal charge? Both A and B and their crews work for the same organization.</p>

<p>The parts are owned by Z, the company. The usual definition of &quot;theft&quot; is as in RCW 9a.56.020:</p>
<blockquote>
<p>(a) To wrongfully obtain or exert unauthorized control over the
property or services of another or the value thereof, with intent to
<em>deprive him or her of such property</em> or services; or (b) By color or aid of deception to obtain control over the property or services of
another or the value thereof, with intent to <em>deprive him or her</em> of
such property or services; or (c) To appropriate lost or misdelivered
property or services of another, or the value thereof, with intent to
<em>deprive him or her</em> of such property or services.</p>
</blockquote>
<p>In moving property within the company from one part to another, B has not been deprived of its property. The company might fire A for unauthorized use of company property, but this is not a legal matter, it is an employment matter. B cannot sue A, although B might sue Z if B was punished for not meeting quota, Z knew of the the reason for not meeting quota, and A's motivation was illegally discriminatory (<a href="https://casetext.com/case/perez-v-developers-diversified-realty-corp" rel="noreferrer">Perez v. DDR</a>).</p>
