Clock is once again ticking for Universal ostrich farm owners

The owners of a controversial ostrich farm failed to convince a judge they own the Edgewood land they live on — but they do have a short window to buy it back.

Universal Ostrich Farm co-owner Karen Espersen sued her sister, Catherine Quigley, claiming partial ownership over a 50-acre plot of land across the road from the ostrich farm they’ve lived on for years.

When Esperson was near bankruptcy in 2013, Catherine and her husband Thomas bought it and allowed her to live there for various considerations, including paying a small mortgage and expenses.

According to a recent decision, the Quigleys intended to build their retirement home there and live among siblings “as neighbours”.

It’s unclear exactly what happened to that dream but according to a recent decision, Karen was responsible for subdividing the property and “did not take the steps to obtain” the necessary paperwork. It never got done.

Esperson claimed the property was bought for her in trust on a verbal agreement but BC Supreme Court Justice Gary Weatherill found no evidence of such an agreement. He also threw out a countersuit for largely the same reasons.

He did, however, note that the Quigley’s no longer want the property while Karen and her husband Erik do. Weatherill gave them four months to appraise the property and either buy it for fair value or get out.

Varying values of the property in the document range from $350,000 to $437,000. In the last few years, the farm creditors have sued the business for more than $250,000.

While the farm’s public crowdfunding sites brought in more than $330,000, Bilinski said his creditors hadn’t been paid back, saying the money was spent on legal fees and farm costs.