In Star Transfer Line v. General Exporting Co, 308 Mich. 86; 13 N.W.2d 217 (1944), the plaintiff, which operated a public warehouse, commenced an interpleader action to determine the owner of 799 cases of whiskey stored in its warehouse. Star Transfer, 308 Mich. at 90-91. The defendants Southard & Company Ltd. (Southard), General Exporting Company, and John McKeown each claimed to be the owner of the whiskey. Star Transfer, 308 Mich. at 91. In its interpleader complaint, the plaintiff requested that it be given a lien for the reasonable costs, expenses, and attorney fees associated with the interpleader action. Star Transfer, 308 Mich. at 95. After a trial, the court ruled that the defendant Southard was the owner of the whiskey. Star Transfer, 308 Mich. at 96-97. The Michigan Supreme Court affirmed the trial court's ruling that Southard was the owner of the whiskey and ruled that Southard's ownership was subject to a lien of the plaintiff for the attorney fees incurred with respect to the interpleader action in the trial court and on appeal. Star Transfer, 308 Mich. at 119-120. However, the Court reversed the trial court's decree to the extent that it determined defendants General Exporting and McKeown to be personally liable for the plaintiff's attorney fees, holding that "under the facts and circumstances, we believe that such provisions of the trial court's decree were inequitable and should be vacated and set aside." Star Transfer, 308 Mich. at 120.