Opinion ID: 1701228
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: summary of appellants' argument

Text: In essence, the counterclaim of the Boshell heirs seeks to have the court set aside the deed from Mae Boshell to Dr. Gaines Keith (executed and recorded in 1958) or to set aside or reform the 1957 fee simple deed from the heirs of M. J. Boshell to Mae Boshell, their mother. The Boshell heirs assert that, despite the lapse of more than 20 years from the deeds under attack, the Alabama rule of repose nevertheless does not bar their claim to the mineral interest in parcels 1 through 8. This supposition is premised upon four assertions: 1) that the rule of repose does not operate against a void deed (and that an allegedly forged deed is void); 2) that Dr. Keith must be in actual possession of the minerals before the 20-year period runs; 3) that Mae Boshell was treacherously betrayed by attorney John D. Petree in her conveyance to Dr. Keith; and 4) that the Boshell heirs were justifiably ignorant of their claim or cause of action until 1980, thereby tolling the 20-year period of repose until such actual discovery.