93 Ala. 89 | Ala. | 1890
— No indexible rule, as to the time within which a motion to set aside and vacate a sale of land under •execution must be made, has been or can be announced. The general rule, that there must be promptness of action — no unreasonable delay — to be determined on the particular cir•cumstances of each case, is well recognized. Ordinarily, the proceeding is regarded as equitable in its nature; and the question of laches, when involved, is determinable on equitable principles. — McCaskell v. Lee, 39 Ala. 131. In an early case, it was remarked, “that the’ motion should be made in a reasonable time — most regularly, at the first term succeeding the return of the process. But we will not, however, undertake to sav, that there might not be circumstances under which the court should interfere at a subsequent term; especially, if there are sufficient reasons for not having sought its action earlier.”- — Hubbert v. McCollum, 6 Ala. 221. In a-•subsequent case, it was declared, that a motion to set aside a sale of land under execution may be made at any time before the purchaser takes possession, or recovers it bj'- suit; the reason assigned being, that there is no necessity for the party in possession-to be active until the purchaser obtains posses
It has been held, by analogy to the time fixed by statute for the redemption of land sold under mortgages and purchased by persons other than the mortgagee, that two years is-a reasonable time within which the mortgagor should become active in disaffirming and avoiding a purchase by a mortgagee at his own sale, under a power contained in the mortgage, when no facts or circumstances are proved, showing that the time is unreasonably short, and rendering its application inequitable and unjust, or no satisfactory reasons given for longer delay. — Ezzell v. Watson, 83 Ala. 120; Cooper v. Hornsby, 71 Ala. 64. The same time for redemption of land sold under execution is fixed by statute as in cases of sales under mortgages; and the same reasoning ápplies as to the time-within which motions to vacate sales of realty under execution should be made, as in cases of sales under mortgages. The repose of titles derived from judicial sales demands, especially in view of the frequent transmissions of title in business-transactions, that, as far as practicable, some definite period of time should be fixed, in ordinary cases, within which a motion to vacate the sale should be made. There can be no-sufficient reason why longer time should be allowed, in the absence of special circumstances, than is allowed for the redemption of the land. In consonance with the principles, announced in analogous cases, and with the rule declared in Cowan v. Sapp, with the legislative policy, and the tendency of judicial decisions to shorten the time within which parties-feeling aggrieved may seek the overthrow of'titles acquired from judicial sales, we hold, that two years is a reasonable time within which a motion to vacate a sale of land under execution should be made, unless there is fraud, or misconduct, or irregularity seriously affecting the sale; or satisfactory reasons why longer time should be allowed are shown.
We are forced to reverse the judgment.
Reversed and remanded.