United States Tenth Circuit

The plain language of the False Claims Act, 31 U.S.C. section 3729(a)(7), squarely encompasses the fraud on the Government that occurs when a lessee makes false statements to the US to avoid transmitting to the Federal Treasury royalties owed on Indian mineral leases. Dismissal of this qui tam complaint is reversed.

Appellate Information

• Decided 04/05/2004
• Published 04/05/2004

Judges

• McKAY, Circuit Judge., Before EBEL, McKAY, and LUCERO, Circuit Judges.

Court

• United States Tenth Circuit

Counsel

• For Appellant:
  
• Pat S. Holloway, Dripping Springs, TX, for Plaintiffs-Appellants., Sara McLean, Attorney, Civil Division, Washington, D.C. (Robert D. McCallum, Jr., Assistant Attorney General;  Douglas N. Letter, Appellate Litigation Counsel;  Alan E. Kleinburd and Michael D. Granston, Attorneys, Civil Division, Washington, D.C., with her on the brief), for Amicus Curiae United States., John T. Boese, Justin J. Brookman, and Michael J. Anstett of Fried, Frank, Harris, Shriver & Jacobson, Washington, D.C.;   Donald I. Schultz, P.C., of Holland & Hart, LLP, Cheyenne, WY;  Craig L. Stahl and Jeffrey T. Kuehnle of Andrews & Kurth LLP, The Woodlands, TX;  and Laura B. Rowe of Hicks, Thomas & Lilienstern, LLP, Houston, TX, filed a brief for Amicus Curiae Burlington Resources Oil & Gas Co. LP.


• For Appellees:
  
• J. Robert Beatty (W. Scott Hastings with him on the brief) of Locke, Liddell & Sapp LLP, Dallas, TX, for Defendants-Appellees.