Hatley v. West

After his July 1, 1965 purchase of a ranch in Whitman County, plaintiff found a number of horses pastured on the property. An investigation led to the discovery that the animals had been left there by the seller, under whose care they had been placed by their various owners.

Some of the horses belonged to defendants. Plaintiff then met and discussed with them the matter of feed, care and maintenance costs of the animals. They even considered the possibility of selling the animals in order to pay the accrued costs of care. They were not sold.

When payment for the care was not made by April 1,…