Harris v. State

OTIS, Justice.

The state appeals from an order granting a new trial in an action to determine adverse claims and quiet title to property in St. Louis County which contains substantial deposits of taconite.

In 1963 the state and its lessee commenced a Torrens proceeding to register title based on a forfeiture for nonpayment of 1932 taxes. The proceeding was dismissed after the plaintiffs, asserting fee title rooted in a chain running back into the 1800’s, notified the state that they intended to challenge the forfeiture.

Plaintiffs instituted this action in May 1964. Trial was to begin in January…