United States v. Southern Pacific Transportation Co.

601 F.2d 1059 UNITED STATES of America and the Quechan Tribe of Indians, Plaintiffs- Appellants-Cross-Appellees, v. SOUTHERN PACIFIC TRANSPORTATION CO., Imperial Irrigation District, et al., Defendants-Appellees-Cross-Appellants. Nos. 76-3596, 77-1122 and 77-1198. United States Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit. Aug. 2, 1979. R. L. Knox, Jr., Horton, Knox, Carter & Foote, El Centro, Cal., for Southern Pacific Trans. Co. Art Bunce, Escondido, Cal., Anne Almy, Washington, D. C., for U. S. & Quechan Tribe of Indians. Appeal from the United States District Court for the Southern District of California. Before HUFSTEDLER and ANDERSON, Circuit Judges, and FIRTH, * District Judge. HUFSTEDLER, Circuit Judge: 1 These cross-appeals arise from a suit commenced by the United States in 1974 to quiet title to lands located in eastern Imperial County, California. The Quechan Tribe of Indians ("Quechan Tribe"), formerly the Yuma Tribe of Indians, intervened to protect its claimed equitable interest in reservation land within the contested area. All parties appeal from the judgment of the district court quieting title to some of the lands in the plaintiffs and some of the lands in the…