White v. State, Department of Natural Resources

OPINION

BRYNER, Justice.

I. INTRODUCTION

James White, Gregory Micallef, and Peninsula Pipeline Company (collectively, "White") sued the Alaska Department of Natural Resources for breach of contract because the department refused to transfer their oil and gas leases, which expired while White's applications for transfer were pending. White alleged that this breach amounted to a taking of his property without due process of law. The superior court granted summary judg ment for the state, concluding that White's claim was barred by res judicata because of this court's prior decision in a related…