Oil company wants royalties lawsuit moved to federal court

A Texas-based oil and gas company wants a lawsuit alleging fraud and breached leases over Idaho natural gas royalties moved to federal court.

The Idaho Statesman reports Alta Mesa submitted notice Thursday seeking to move the complaint filed last month by nine Idaho residents, citing that none of the companies named in the suit are from the state.

The lawsuit claims the company underpaid natural gas royalties to leaseholders by altering royalty accounting methods.

Federal law allows lawsuits filed in state court to be moved to federal court if the defendants are not residents of that state.

The state is investigating the company’s compliance with state rules and its royalty payments for leases on state lands.