Opinion ID: 1830315
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: facts

Text: Robert S. Dickson, Sr., died in 1949, survived by his wife, Leila T. Dickson, and four children, Leila D. Arthur, Anne D. Kidd, Robert S. Dickson, Jr., and Doris Dickson (now Doris Dickson Plant). His last will and testament devised to Doris Dickson certain real property in the following language: I do hereby will and devise to my daughter Doris Dickson those lands now owned by me, comprising 822 acres more or less, and known as my HAIGLER PLACE, in fee simple, provided, that at her death she leaves bodily issue or heirs of her body; in the event of her death leaving no bodily issue or heirs of her body, then the title to said lands shall revert to my other heirs or descendants, according to the present Laws of Descent & Distribution, in the Statutes of Alabama. Subsequently, by deed dated the 3rd of September, 1957, Robert S. Dickson, Jr., and his wife; Anne Dickson Kidd and her husband; Leila Dickson Arthur and her husband; and Leila T. Dickson, a widow, conveyed to Doris Dickson Plant all of their right, title, and interest in the Haigler Place in the following language: [T]he [Grantors] ... hereby grant, bargain, sell and convey unto [Doris Dickson Plant] all of the right, title, interest and estate which the [Grantors] or either of them, may now own or to which they, or either of them, may hereafter be entitled, in law or in equity, including any right, title, interest or estate which they, or either of them, may now own or hereafter be entitled to by way of reversion or expectancy, or by remainder, whether vested or contingent, or by way of executory devise, under or by virtue of the terms, conditions, or provisions contained in the last will and testament of Robert S. Dickson, Sr..... The grantors in this deed were the testator's widow and all of his children and their respective spouses, with the exception of Doris, who was the grantee. Doris later sold a thirteen-acre tract of the original 822 acres and, in 1967, executed a timber sale contract on the remaining lands to Hammermill Paper Company. She proposed to sell a portion of the lands to General Electric Company in accordance with the terms of a contract for sale dated February 3, 1983. As a condition of the sale, General Electric required that she institute court proceedings to establish her right to the subject lands. This appeal is from the final judgment in that proceeding.