United States v. Taunah

583 F. Supp. 1128, 1983 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 18919
CourtDistrict Court, W.D. Oklahoma
DecidedMarch 1, 1983
DocketNo. CIV-78-1242-D
StatusPublished

This text of 583 F. Supp. 1128 (United States v. Taunah) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering District Court, W.D. Oklahoma primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
United States v. Taunah, 583 F. Supp. 1128, 1983 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 18919 (W.D. Okla. 1983).

Opinion

OPINION

DAUGHERTY, District Judge.

The United States of America, Plaintiff herein, brings this suit on behalf of Roberta (Rebecca) Jean Atchhavit Atetewuthtakewa Red Elk (21/63), Robert Atetewuthtakewa Red Elk (7/63), Ozzie Atetewuthtakewa Red Elk (7/63), Clifford Atetewuthtakewa Red Elk (7/63), Florine Atetewuthtakewa Red Elk (7/63), Elgin Atetewuthtakewa Red Elk, Jr. (7/63), and Tina Atetewuthtakewa Red Elk (7/63), as Indian wards of the government and the heirs of Elgin Red Elk,1 former Indian ward of the government, to quiet title to the following described lands:

Lot 1 and the Southeast Quarter, Northeast Quarter, (SE/4 NE/4), containing 79.97 acres, more or less, subject to 1.65 acre right-of-way for public road granted to State of Oklahoma, in Section 3, Township 4 South, Range 10 West, Indian Meridian, in Cotton County, Oklahoma.

[1129]*1129The Defendants, Leon Taunah, deceased; the unknown heirs, executors, administrators, devisees, trustees and assigns, immediate and remote of said Leon Taunah, deceased; Freída Taunah; Malcolm Clarence Taunah; and Lebert Taunah oppose the quiet title suit of the government. The Defendant State of Oklahoma, ex rel. Oklahoma Tax Commission has disclaimed herein.

The government asserts that the subject property was acquired by warranty deed dated November 16, 1949 and filed of record on November 22, 1949 to Pe-a-wifeah (also known as Flora Taunah), Comanche Indian Allottee No. 1929, now' deceased. The warranty deed to her contained the provision: “Subject to the condition that this land cannot be alienated or encumbered without the consent of the Secretary of the Interior.” Plaintiff further asserts that payment for this land was made from restricted funds accumulated by oil royalty payments held in trust and under the control of the government for Flora Taunah, an Indian ward of the government. Also, Plaintiff alleges these restricted funds would not have been released by the government for the purchase of this land for Flora Taunah except with said provision in the deed above quoted by which the land became restricted land as to alienation, the same as were the restricted funds which were used to pay for the land. Moreover, the evidence shows that Flora Taunah understood and agreed to said restriction on said land.

Flora Taunah died testate on or about June 24, 1954. Her will was duly probated and by the same title to the described land was devised and vested in Elgin Red Elk, son of Flora Taunah. The disposition of all her property to Elgin Red Elk was made final in 1955. Elgin Red Elk died in May of 1959 and this action is brought on behalf of his heirs above named to quiet title to said property in them. Before Elgin Red Elk died he and his wife Roberta on June 30, 1957, deeded said land to Leon Taunah. This deed was not approved by the Secretary of the Interior. During the probate of the will of Flora Taunah, her heirs, including Elgin Red Elk, entered into what has been called a “family settlement contract” dated July 19, 1954 by which a disposition of the property of Flora Taunah, including the land above described, different from that directed in her will, was agreed upon. Said agreement was to overcome or settle a threatened contest of her will by those heirs of Flora Taunah other than Elgin Red Elk. This “family settlement contract” apparently was not presented to the probate judge, for the will of Flora Taunah was probated in accordance with its terms with title to the above described property being devised and vested solely in Elgin Red Elk. Also, this “family settlement contract” was not approved by the Secretary of the Interi- or at that time or thereafter, at least as to the property described above.2 Leon Tau-nah and some or all of the Defendants took possession of said land after receiving the deed from Elgin Red Elk and Defendants or some of them are presently in possession of the same.

It is Plaintiffs contention that said land by virtue of the above quoted provision contained in the warranty deed to Flora Taunah is restricted land; that title to said land passed from Flora Taunah by her probated will to Elgin Red Elk and upon his death passed to his heirs by probate proceedings; these heirs are represented in this suit by the Plaintiff; that the deed from Elgin Red Elk to Leon Taunah has never been approved by the Secretary of the Interior; that the “family settlement contract” has never been approved by the Secretary of the Interior as to the property involved herein and described above. In these circumstances it is Plaintiffs contention that said property is owned by the [1130]*1130heirs of Elgin Red Elk whom it represents herein and that title to said property should be quieted in Plaintiff for and on behalf of the heirs of Elgin Red Elk and Defendants or those in possession under them should be ordered to surrender possession of the property and be enjoined from claiming any interest therein.

It is the contention and defense of the Defendants that the above quoted provision in the deed is not a valid provision and that the land as and when held by Flora Taunah was not restricted land. Alternatively, if said restriction is a valid restriction, that the same terminated upon the death of Flora Taunah and was not imposed on the property at the time Elgin Red Elk executed his deed thereon to Leon Taunah. It is the further contention of the Defendants that the said “family settlement contract” as to the land described above and/or the said warranty deed from Elgin Red Elk to Leon Taunah has or have been in fact approved one or both by the Secretary of the Interior. ■ Therefore, Defendants assert that under any of these contentions they own the legal title to said land and Plaintiff is not entitled to quiet title therein in the heirs of Elgin Red Elk.

Based on the evidence presented and the applicable law, the Court finds and concludes as follows:

The Bureau of Indian Affairs held restricted funds to the credit of Flora Tau-nah. These restricted funds were used to purchase the above described property. Flora Taunah would not have been permitted to use said restricted funds to buy said property unless said property as purchased would likewise be restricted property not to be conveyed without the consent of the Secretary of the Interior as provided in the warranty deed to Flora Taunah. The above facts are clearly established herein by documentary evidence. The Court rejects the Defendants’ contention that said provision in the deed is invalid. Our Circuit in United States v. Getzelman, 89 F.2d 531 (10th Cir.1937), and certain cases which followed, has held as follows:

“... but ordinarily the insertion of a provision against alienation in a deed conveying land to an Indian ward cannot impose restrictions unless the land is acquired with money under the supervision of the Secretary and the insertion of the provision is exacted as a condition to the use of the money for that purpose.”

Also see United States v. Brown, 8 F.2d 564 (8th Cir.1925); United States v. Williams, 139 F.2d 83 (10th Cir.1943) and Ward v. United States, 139 F.2d 79 (10th Cir.1943).

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Related

Sunderland v. United States
266 U.S. 226 (Supreme Court, 1924)
Board of County Commissioners v. Seber
318 U.S. 705 (Supreme Court, 1943)
United States v. Brown
8 F.2d 564 (Eighth Circuit, 1925)
States v. Getzelman
89 F.2d 531 (Tenth Circuit, 1937)
Ward v. United States
139 F.2d 79 (Tenth Circuit, 1943)
United States v. Williams
139 F.2d 83 (Tenth Circuit, 1943)
Udall v. Taunah
398 F.2d 795 (Tenth Circuit, 1968)

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Bluebook (online)
583 F. Supp. 1128, 1983 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 18919, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/united-states-v-taunah-okwd-1983.