Lawsuit alleges unpaid oil, gas revenues for Five Tribes landowners
Class action claims federal government failed to protect allotment owners’ mineral interests
A class action lawsuit filed in the United States Court of Federal Claims alleges the federal government failed to protect oil and gas payments owed to more than 10,000 Native American restricted-fee landowners in Oklahoma, according to Native Oklahoma. The case involves citizens of the Choctaw, Chickasaw, Muscogee (Creek), Seminole and Cherokee Nations with allotments governed by the Stigler Act. The lawsuit states more than 3,000 landowners received no payments from production on their land.
The complaint also alleges more than 7,000 landowners who do receive payments lack federal protections such as recordkeeping and systems to track or earn interest on funds, according to Native Oklahoma. Stephen Hampton, an enrolled member of the Choctaw Nation, was quoted as saying, “We’ve seen oil and gas companies take what’s ours while the government stands by and does nothing.” Attorney Jeffrey Nelson of mctlaw said the case seeks accountability and proper payments under federal law.
- 1.Native Oklahoma, .
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