Court of Federal Claims Denies Damages for Void Federal Lease Issued Over Indian Trust Lands in Violation of IMLA

Lario Oil and Gas Company sought damages after BLM improperly issued a federal oil and gas lease covering portions of MHA Nation trust lands without complying with Indian Mineral Leasing Act procedures, forcing Lario to pay higher royalties and bonus payments under a subsequent IMDA-compliant tribal lease. The Court of Federal Claims held the original lease void ab initio but denied Lario's claim for damages arising from BLM's administrative error, leaving the operator to absorb the differential between federal and tribal lease terms.