Doggett v. Helm

MONCUR®, J.,

delivered the opinion of the court.

The court is of opinion, without deciding any other question in this cause, that laches and lapse of time afford a sufficient ground for affirming the decree of the court below, dismissing the plaintiff’s bill. It is an inherent doctrine of courts of equity to refuse to interfere where there has been gross *270laches in prosecuting rights, or long and unreasonable acquiescence in the assertion of adverse rights. 2 Story’s EJq. 1520. As was said by Lord Camden, in Smith v. Clay, Ambler R. 645, “a court of equity, which is never active in relief…