Opinion ID: 1787089
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: whether the applicable limitations period was tolled due to concealed fraud?

Text: ¶ 21. In response to the Millettes' plea of statute of limitations, O'Neal claims that an applicable limitations period was tolled by the concealed fraud of Ted Millette. ¶ 22. The rule of concealed fraud is an exception to the applicable statute of limitations. McMahon, 247 Miss. at 832, 157 So.2d at 499. However, the rule of concealed fraud cannot apply to matters of public record. Id. at 834, 157 So.2d at 500 (citing Adams v. Belt, 136 Miss. 511, 541, 100 So. 191, 194 (1924)). This Court held in Aultman, [w]here the alleged fraudulent conveyance is recorded, the circumstances are public and the means of finding out the character of the transaction is available. Consequently, the running of the statute of limitations is not prevented Id. at 5, 109 So.2d at 347. ¶ 23. Further, the law of this state requires that a creditor seeking to assert the tolling of the statute of limitations on the grounds of concealed fraud show that he or she has been diligent in his or her search in such matters. See McMahon, 247 Miss. at 833, 157 So.2d at 499. Reasonable diligence requires the plaintiff to, at the very least, check the land records in the county where the judgment debtor resides. Had O'Neal done so, it would have easily discovered the filing of the deed and the transfer of the property at issue. There is no evidence that O'Neal undertook any review of the land records until the filing of the lawsuit. ¶ 24. O'Neal argues that Ted Millette committed perjury and that perjury tolls the statute of limitations. Such a contention lacks merit in this case. O'Neal cites no authority for this position. Additionally, even presuming that perjury did occur, it did not rise to the level of concealed fraud because at the time of the judgment debtor examination, Ted Millette had already duly filed and properly recorded the subject deed. Had O'Neal exercised the required diligence, it would have discovered the transferred property.