A federal judge on Monday approved a $3.4 billion settlement over mismanaged Indian royalties in a case that represents the largest class-action settlement ever approved against the U.S. government.
Elouise Cobell of Browning, Mont., claimed in the 15-year-old suit that for more than a century, U.S. officials systematically stole or squandered billions in royalties intended for American Indians in exchange for oil, gas, grazing and other leases.
U.S. District Judge Thomas Hogan, in approving the settlement after a daylong hearing, said the legitimacy of Cobell's claims could not be questioned.
"The government mismanaged these resources on a staggering scale," Hogan said.
The settlement does not make up for the losses Indian tribes suffered for more than a century, Hogan added, but "at least it provides some certainty" to hundreds of thousands of individual Indians who will now receive payments of least $1,000 each from the government. Many will receive substantially more money.
Showing posts with label Cobell Trust Suit. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Cobell Trust Suit. Show all posts
Tuesday, June 21, 2011
Friday, February 11, 2011
Are You a Native American That Deserves a Share of Cobell Trust Suit? See Info in Post
The word that the suit is in settlement brings GOOD NEWS to those who have ownership interest in land held in trust. This would include Native Americans that have had their citizenship ripped from them by tribal councils like those from Pechanga, Redding, Enterprise, Picayune to name a few.
On December 21, 2010, The United States District Court for the District of Columbia granted preliminary approval to the Settlement. On December 8, 2010, President Obama signed legislation approving the Settlement and authorizing $3.4 billion in funds.
You may be a part of this Settlement with certain rights in this Settlement if you are an:
•Individual Indian Money ("IIM") account holder (even if the account is currently not active or open),
•Individual Indian who has or had an ownership interest in land held in trust or in restricted status,
•Heir to a deceased IIM account holder or individual landowner.
If you are NOT currently receiving quarterly or annual IIM account statements and believe you are part of this Settlement, you will need to File a Claim Form / Register to Participate. You have the option to File a Claim Form / Register to Participate online, or to download and print the Claim Form for mailing. To obtain a Claim Form, you may also call the toll-free number or write to Indian Trust Settlement and request that a Claim Form be mailed to you.
Please be sure to review the Detailed Notice to fully understand your rights.
VIEW THIS SETTLEMENT VIDEO
On December 21, 2010, The United States District Court for the District of Columbia granted preliminary approval to the Settlement. On December 8, 2010, President Obama signed legislation approving the Settlement and authorizing $3.4 billion in funds.
You may be a part of this Settlement with certain rights in this Settlement if you are an:
•Individual Indian Money ("IIM") account holder (even if the account is currently not active or open),
•Individual Indian who has or had an ownership interest in land held in trust or in restricted status,
•Heir to a deceased IIM account holder or individual landowner.
If you are NOT currently receiving quarterly or annual IIM account statements and believe you are part of this Settlement, you will need to File a Claim Form / Register to Participate. You have the option to File a Claim Form / Register to Participate online, or to download and print the Claim Form for mailing. To obtain a Claim Form, you may also call the toll-free number or write to Indian Trust Settlement and request that a Claim Form be mailed to you.
Please be sure to review the Detailed Notice to fully understand your rights.
VIEW THIS SETTLEMENT VIDEO
Friday, May 1, 2009
Mark Levy, Cobell Trust Attorney, Dead of Suicide in DC
Attorney who worked on Cobell case found dead in DC
Friday, May 1, 2009
Mark Levy, a prominent attorney who had worked on the Cobell trust fund case, was found dead in his office in Washington, D.C., on Thursday. Authorities treated the case as a suicide.
Levy, 59, headed the chair of the Supreme Court and Appellate Advocacy practice at Kilpatrick Stockton. According to news reports, he was being laid off yesterday.
"We in the legal community are losing someone who is hard to replace," Dennis Gingold, who has served as lead counsel in the Cobell case, . told The Legal Times. "This is a tough time."
Levy argued 16 cases before the U.S. Supreme Court and argued the Cobell case before the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals, which is due to hear the case once again on May 11.
Kilpatrick Stockton employs several other attorneys who work on the Cobell case, including Keith Harper, a member of the Cherokee Nation.
Friday, May 1, 2009
Mark Levy, a prominent attorney who had worked on the Cobell trust fund case, was found dead in his office in Washington, D.C., on Thursday. Authorities treated the case as a suicide.
Levy, 59, headed the chair of the Supreme Court and Appellate Advocacy practice at Kilpatrick Stockton. According to news reports, he was being laid off yesterday.
"We in the legal community are losing someone who is hard to replace," Dennis Gingold, who has served as lead counsel in the Cobell case, . told The Legal Times. "This is a tough time."
Levy argued 16 cases before the U.S. Supreme Court and argued the Cobell case before the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals, which is due to hear the case once again on May 11.
Kilpatrick Stockton employs several other attorneys who work on the Cobell case, including Keith Harper, a member of the Cherokee Nation.
Thursday, March 26, 2009
Cobell Suit Likely Headed Back to Court
Native advocates who believed President Barack Obama would settle a long-standing lawsuit between the Interior Department and Native landholders say they're disappointed with the new administration.
Instead, Obama and Interior Secretary Ken Salazar have expressed a need to settle the Cobell v. Salazar case in court rather than sit down and talk to Native landowners and negotiate a settlement.
“Salazar's out there talking, saying he wants to settle this case and putting false hopes into Indian people,” said Elouise Cobell, the lead plaintiff in the case.
“It's really a slam in the face,” she said. “Why is this administration taking this avenue? They have to live up to their trust responsibility and they need to talk to Indian people.”
Dennis Gingold, lead attorney in the 12-year-old case, pointed out Wednesday that Salazar is a trustee. “And he can't sit down and talk to the trust beneficiaries?” Gingold asked.
Interior spokeswoman Kendra Barkoff said the department could not comment because the case is in litigation. Salazar, Barkoff said, “is sincere in trying to find a resolution to this case.”
Lawyers for the Interior Department as well as lawyers for Native landholders both filed successful appeals to the U.S. Court of Appeals immediately after a federal judge in August awarded a $455 million settlement regarding the department's mismanagement of the tribal trust fund system.
Cobell, who is from the Blackfeet Reservation, expressed disappointment with Salazar's decision to talk of settlement only after the case is heard in the Court of Appeals. Oral arguments are scheduled for May 11 in Washington, D.C.
“People in Indian Country are expecting a settlement,” Cobell said. “For him to say he can't work on a settlement until the Court of Appeals rules, well, the opportunity is now. Now is the time he needs to pull the forces and powers together.”
The Interior Department oversees the Bureau of Indian Affairs and the Office of Special Trustee, two agencies with significant oversight of Native issues. The department has been responsible for collecting and distributing money earned from natural resources on 11 million acres of land owned by Native individuals. The department's trust responsibility to Native landowners dates back to 1887.
Salazar initially provided hope about settling the lawsuit at a National Congress of American Indians gathering, said Cobell.
She said the Interior Department, as well as the Office of Management Budget and the Justice Department, all need to work to settle the case. “Certainly the Obama administration can call Justice and say, ‘Lay off. Pull off the dogs. We're going to stop this litigation.' ”
The Missoulian
Instead, Obama and Interior Secretary Ken Salazar have expressed a need to settle the Cobell v. Salazar case in court rather than sit down and talk to Native landowners and negotiate a settlement.
“Salazar's out there talking, saying he wants to settle this case and putting false hopes into Indian people,” said Elouise Cobell, the lead plaintiff in the case.
“It's really a slam in the face,” she said. “Why is this administration taking this avenue? They have to live up to their trust responsibility and they need to talk to Indian people.”
Dennis Gingold, lead attorney in the 12-year-old case, pointed out Wednesday that Salazar is a trustee. “And he can't sit down and talk to the trust beneficiaries?” Gingold asked.
Interior spokeswoman Kendra Barkoff said the department could not comment because the case is in litigation. Salazar, Barkoff said, “is sincere in trying to find a resolution to this case.”
Lawyers for the Interior Department as well as lawyers for Native landholders both filed successful appeals to the U.S. Court of Appeals immediately after a federal judge in August awarded a $455 million settlement regarding the department's mismanagement of the tribal trust fund system.
Cobell, who is from the Blackfeet Reservation, expressed disappointment with Salazar's decision to talk of settlement only after the case is heard in the Court of Appeals. Oral arguments are scheduled for May 11 in Washington, D.C.
“People in Indian Country are expecting a settlement,” Cobell said. “For him to say he can't work on a settlement until the Court of Appeals rules, well, the opportunity is now. Now is the time he needs to pull the forces and powers together.”
The Interior Department oversees the Bureau of Indian Affairs and the Office of Special Trustee, two agencies with significant oversight of Native issues. The department has been responsible for collecting and distributing money earned from natural resources on 11 million acres of land owned by Native individuals. The department's trust responsibility to Native landowners dates back to 1887.
Salazar initially provided hope about settling the lawsuit at a National Congress of American Indians gathering, said Cobell.
She said the Interior Department, as well as the Office of Management Budget and the Justice Department, all need to work to settle the case. “Certainly the Obama administration can call Justice and say, ‘Lay off. Pull off the dogs. We're going to stop this litigation.' ”
The Missoulian
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