United States Federal Circuit

The Indian Mineral Leasing Act and its regulations, which require the Secretary of the Interior to approve mining leases on Indian lands, creates a fiduciary relationship between the federal government and Indian tribes to which the Act applies.

Appellate Information

• Decided 08/10/2001
• Published 08/13/2001

Judges

• Before NEWMAN, SCHALL, and LINN Circuit Judges.

Court

• United States Federal Circuit

Counsel

• For Appellant:
  
• Paul E. Frye,Frye Law Firm, P.C., of Albuquerque, NM, for plaintiff-appellant.   Of counsel on the brief was Daniel I.S.J. Rey-Bear, Nordhaus, Haltom, Taylor, Taradash & Bladh, L.L.P., of Albuquerque, NM., V. Thomas Lankford, Lankford & Coffield, P.L.L.C., of Alexandria, VA, for amici curiae Peabody Holding Company, Inc., et al.   Of counsel were William F. Coffield and Terrance G. Reed.


• For Appellees:
  
• Todd S. Aagaard, Attorney, Environment & Natural Resources Division, Department of Justice, of Washington, DC, for defendant-appellee.   With him on the brief were R. Anthony Rogers, of Washington, DC, and Kristine S. Tardiff, of Concord, New Hampshire, Attorneys.   Of counsel was Elizabeth Ann Peterson, Attorney, of Washington, DC.