Champlin Exploration, Inc. v. Western Bridge & Steel Co., Inc.

Champlin Petroleum Company (CPC) (defendant) refined hydrocarbons that later leaked back into the ground; upon discovering the leaks, CPC promptly worked to stop them and recover the escaped hydrocarbons, and eventually fixed all the leaks. Champlin Exploration, Inc. (CEI) (plaintiff) took possession of some of the escaped hydrocarbons and sued for a declaratory judgment that it owned them. The trial court ruled for CPC, and CEI appealed.