Heirs of Roberts v. Coal Processing

This appeal concerns a factual situation which had its inception 114 years ago and arises from an action at law commenced 38 years ago. The sole question is whether the claims of additional plaintiffs, added 23 to 25 years after the action was originally filed, were barred by the statute of limitations. We hold that they were not.

In 1874, Galen M. Roberts owned a 1,000-acre tract of land lying within the present boundaries of Wise and Russell Counties. On September 19, 1874, he executed a “deed of lease,” conveying all mineral rights in the tract to parties named Price and Stein-man. The…