Opinion ID: 210370
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: standard of review

Text: The threshold issue in this appeal, as with the five previous Navajo decisions, is whether the Nation has stated a claim cognizable under 28 U.S.C. § 1505, known as the Indian Tucker Act. This is an issue of law that this court reviews without deference. Fisher v. United States, 402 F.3d 1167, 1173 (Fed.Cir.2005) (en banc in pertinent part) (The trial court's determination regarding the money-mandating character of the statute at issue is of course subject to appellate review as a question of law.). The Court of Federal Claims applies the same summary judgment standard as that of federal district courts: summary judgment is proper if the evidence demonstrates that there is no genuine issue as to any material fact and that the moving party is entitled to a judgment as a matter of law. See Ct. Fed. Cl. R. 56(c); Fed. R.Civ.P. 56(c); see also Celotex Corp. v. Catrett, 477 U.S. 317, 322-23, 106 S.Ct. 2548, 91 L.Ed.2d 265 (1986); SmithKline Beecham Corp. v. Apotex Corp., 403 F.3d 1331, 1337 (Fed.Cir.2005). Therefore, if the Nation has stated a claim cognizable under the Indian Tucker Act, we review without deference whether the United States breached its trust duties. SmithKline, 403 F.3d at 1337.