Finders Keepers?

Map Branches

• Trachuk 1996, AB QB
  • Facts & Issues
    • C.P.R.
      • Prior land owner
    • H.B.C.
      • Prior lessee of well site
    • Marathon
      • Current land owner
    • Amoco
      • Current lessee of well site
    • Voyager
      • Easement & R.o.W.
    • Sulpetro
      • Easement & R.o.W.
    • Signalta
      • Easement & R.o.W.
      • Owned oil pipe
    • Trachuk
      • Leased farm around well
      • Process of purchasing
    • Olinek (contractor)
      • Austin (backhoe)
      • Fulkerth (welder)
      • Muntz (labour)
    • Police
      • $75,960
    • Wandzilak
      • Withdrew claim
    • Crown
      • Withdrew claim
  • Gallant
    • Distinguish lost vs. hidden property
    • Hidden = finder subject to land possessor's rights
    • Trachuk in prior possession?
      • Intent?
      • Control?
• Parker v. BA 1982, UK CA
  • Facts & Issues
    • Parker found bracelet on floor at LHR lounge
    • Turned over to BA staff if owner returned
    • BA refused to give it back to Parker
    • Parker sued for conversion & detinue
  • Donaldson
    • Finder
      • Must be abandoned or lost
      • Trespassers' claims weak
        • Bird/Baird?
      • Finders' claim relative to others
      • Employees find for employers
      • Finders' duty to seek true owner
    • Occupier
      • Attached/embedded = superior rights
      • Loose = must manifest intention
      • Must seek true owner
      • Ships/cars same as land/buildings
• Charrier v. Bell 1986, LA TD
  • Facts & Issues
    • Excavated Tunica burial ground
    • Permission from caretaker, not owner
    • Claimed ownership of found artifacts
    • Or unjust enrichment of owners
    • Government & Tunica-Biloxi intervened
  • Ponder
    • Descendents' chain of title ok
    • Buried artifacts not abandoned
• Stewart v. Gustafson 1999, SK QB
  • Abandoned?
    • Intent
    • Control

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