Federal Claims Court Dismisses Osage Headrights Trust Breach Suit

Here are new materials in Fletcher v. United States (Fed. Cl.):

30 Motion to Dismiss

33 Response

36 Reply

55 Order

Federal Circuit Allows Osage Headright Owners’ Money Damages Claim for Breach of Trust to Proceed

Here is the opinion in Fletcher v. United States. An excerpt:

Plaintiffs William Fletcher, Tara Damron, Richard Longsinger, and Kathryn Redcorn, individual holders of Osage headrights, filed suit against the United States in the Court of Federal Claims (Claims Court) seeking damages resulting from breach of fiduciary duties relating to royalties from the Osage mineral estate. Fletcher v. United States, 151 Fed. Cl. 487 (2020) (Claims Court Decision). Because the Claims Court incorrectly concluded that the plaintiffs had no standing and had failed to identify a source of money-mandating obligation as required under the Tucker Act, we reverse the dismissal of the complaint. We also vacate the Claims Court’s decision on the availability of a damages accounting and the striking of declarations.

Briefs here.

Delegation composing the Council of the Osage Indian tribe of Oklahoma in Wash. to confer with Secy. Work and Commissioner of Indian Affairs Burke to take up the question of leasing oil lands in the Osage reservation

Federal Circuit Briefs in Fletcher v. United States [Osage Headrights Trust Claims]

Here:

Opening Brief

Answer Brief

Reply

Lower court materials here.

Federal Claims Court Holds Osage Headright Owners’ Trust Claims Foreclosed by Osage Trust Settlement

Here are the materials in Fletcher v. United States (Fed. Cl.):

7 US Motion to Dismiss

10 Response

10-5 Jim Gray Declaration

10-7 Wilson Pipestem Declaration

15 US Motion to Strike

16 Reply in Support of 7

17 Response to 15

18 Reply in Support of 15

22 DCT Order

We posted the complaint here.

Tenth Circuit Declines to Award Attorney Fees to Prevailing Osage Trust Claimants

Here is the opinion in Fletcher v. United States (PDF):

Briefs:

Appellant Brief

Appellee Brief

Reply

Osage Headright Owners’ Trust Breach Claims against US

Here is the complaint in Fletcher v. United States (Fed. Cl.):

1 Complaint

 

 

Tenth Circuit Rules against Osage Headrights Class on Trust Accounting Scope

Here are the materials in Fletcher v. United States:

Opinion

Opening Brief

US Response Brief

Reply

Other posts here.

 

US Granted 18 Months to Complete Osage Headright Trust Accounting

Here are the updated materials in Fletcher v. United States (N.D. Okla.):

1285 US Motion to Alter Judgment

1289 Fletcher Motion to Alter Judgment

1294 US Response

1295 Fletcher Response

1304 Fletcher Reply

1305 US Reply

1306 DCT Order

Underlying order here.

Feds Owe Duty to Account to Individual Osage Headright Owners

Here are the materials in Fletcher v. United States (N.D. Okla.):

1262 Fletcher Brief on the Merits

1266 Federal Response Brief on the Merits

1274 Fletcher Reply

1280 DCT Order

Federal Court Certifies Class in Osage Headrights Accounting Suit

Here are the new materials in Fletcher v. United States (N.D. Okla.):

1148 Motion to Certify Class

1154 US Response

1196 DCT Order Certifying Class

This case is on remand from the Tenth Circuit; post here.