Mike Hatchell headed an appellate team that included Molly Hatchell of Hatchell PC, and John Thomas and Laura Rowe of Hicks, Thomas and Lillienstern, Houston, in defending against an action to reclaim 15,000 acres of the historic "King Ranch" in South Texas, based upon supposed fraud by the Ranch's founder in the 1880's. In King Ranch, Inc. v. Chapman, 46 Tex. Sup.Ct. J. 1093 (Tex. Aug. 28, 2003), Plaintiffs sought to set aside an 1882 agreed judgment that vested title in the Ranch. The team's appeal from a court of appeals' decision that required a trial on the merits vindicated the Ranch's position. The Supreme Court held that plaintiffs' proof of the "extrinsic fraud" necessary to sustain their bill of review - the only way they could attack the ancient judgment under Texas practice - was merely "historical tidbits" and "Texas folklore" that was no evidence at all. The court also held that the Ranch established its title, as a matter of law, by more than 25 years of "adverse possession". Although the case is decided on unique facts, passages of the opinion pronounce a strong policy protecting decades-old judgments against belated attack. The decision makes clear that it will not allow rumor, innuendo, folklore, speculation about parties' intent based on inconclusive ancient documents, and the sheer absence of evidence to call into question the validity of land titles settled by solemn instruments or judgments over a century old.