Wetherbee v. Green

Wetherbee (defendant) harvested timber from Green's (plaintiff) land believing he had the rightful owner's authorization, then used the timber to make barrel hoops. Green sued in replevin to recover the finished hoops; the trial court barred Wetherbee from showing the hoops were far more valuable than the raw timber and ruled for Green, and Wetherbee appealed.

Whether, under Michigan law, a person who takes wrongful possession of personal property in good faith and adds substantial value to it thereby acquires title to the improved property.