Opinion ID: 170106
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Findings Support Rejection of Partial Adverse Possession Defense

Text: As a fallback position, Brantley claims even if others used the southern part of Sherrill Farm, he maintained exclusive possession of the northern part and has proven adverse possession at least to that portion of Sherrill Farm. Under Oklahoma law, an adverse possessor can gain title to a portion of land he possesses exclusively even if the record owner makes use of another portion of the land. See Macias v. Guymon Indus. Found., 595 P.2d 430, 434 n. 8 (Okla.1979) (Where true title holder enters a part of his land adversely occupied by another, the statute of limitations will be arrested only as to so much of the land as has been entered and adverse possessor will be restricted to that land of which he remains in actual possession.). Here, the findings support the district court's judgment. While the district court's findings were not entirely clear as to what portions of Sherrill Farm were being used by Weyerhaeuser and OSU, the record shows that, at the very least, Bobby Brantley's grazing lease, which the district court found extended to 1992, covered the whole of Sherrill Farm. And, as detailed above, other users claimed access and use of the northern portion of Sherrill Farm. Moreover, Brantley never clearly defined the boundaries of his use in a way that would have supported his partial exclusive possession. These findings defeat Brantley's claim of partial exclusivity.