ROBERT KEES AND HELEN KEES, PLAINTIFFS-APPELLANTS, v. NORTHERN STATES POWER COMPANY, A/K/A XCEL ENERGY, INC. AND CHIPPEWA VALLEY MOTOR CAR ASSOCIATION LTD., DEFENDANTS-RESPONDENTS., 2013 WI App 84

Summary

Plaintiff property owners and defendant power company disputed ownership of a strip of land. A railroad had constructed it many years earlier. It crossed an interest in the property owners' property acquired under a land contract. The power company had acquired an interest in the railroad through bankruptcy proceedings. The trial court granted the power company fee title to it. The appellate court found that since there had been no valid property interest granted by the federal government, nor abandonment, there was nothing that could revert to the property owners under 43 U.S.C.S. § 912.