Staebler v. Buchanan

September 17, 1969, plaintiffs filed this action to have a warranty deed from them to defendants and dated September 23, 1960, declared a mortgage and for other relief. In addition to traversing the allegations of plaintiffs’ complaint, defendants’ answer affirmatively pleaded defenses of laches and clean hands. The cause was tried before the judge with an advisory jury and the result was judgment for defendants. Plaintiffs appeal.

Prior to September 23, 1960, plaintiffs owned approximately 70 acres of land in Washtenaw County on which they had built their home. The *57property was subject to…