Court Opinion

ID: 9450427
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-04 16:47:21.063473+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T17:32:18.878096
License: Public Domain

WHITAKER, Senior Judge
(concurring in part and dissenting in part):
I agree that the amount paid for the land purchased from the Indians was so inadequate as to be unconscionable, but I cannot see that any duress was exercised in this case. The fact that the Commission told them that $1.25 per acre was all they could get because that was all it and Congress would approve, I do not think by itself constitutes duress. The Indians were perfectly free to reject the offer. So far as I know, the Jerome Commission never represented that they had to sell. So far as I can ascertain, they said no more than, that is all we are going to pay and if you do not accept it, then we can not make any deal with you. I do not think that this is duress.
Other than this, I concur in the opinion of the court.
Reversed and remanded.