43 U.S.C. § 902 : US Code - Section 902: Cancellation; investigation before suit

Search 43 U.S.C. § 902 : US Code - Section 902: Cancellation; investigation before suit

If at any time prior to the institution of suit by the Attorney
General to cancel any patent or certification of lands erroneously
patented or certified a claim or statement is presented to the
Secretary of the Interior by or on behalf of any person or persons,
corporation or corporations, claiming that such person or persons,
corporation or corporations, is a bona fide purchaser or are bona
fide purchasers of any patented or certified land by deed or
contract or otherwise, from or through the original patentee or
corporation to which patent or certification was issued, no suit or
action shall be brought to cancel or annul the patent or
certification for said land until such claim is investigated in
said Department of the Interior; and if it shall appear that such
person or corporation is a bona fide purchaser as aforesaid, or
that such persons or corporations are such bona fide purchasers,
then no such suit shall be instituted and the title of such
claimant or claimants shall stand confirmed; but the Secretary of
the Interior shall request that suit be brought in such case
against the patentee, or the corporation, company, person, or
association of persons for whose benefit the patent was issued or
certification was made for the value of the land as hereinbefore
specified.