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MONDAY, MARCH 10, 2003

U.S. District Judge Royce Lamberth last week agreed to remove Earl Old Person, former chairman of the Blackfeet Nation of Montana, as a lead plaintiff in the Cobell trust fund lawsuit.

Old Person, 73, is reportedly in failing health and recently suffered the death of his wife. He missed a recent deposition that had been ordered by the court.

The Department of Justice was able to question the other four lead plaintiffs and Lamberth wants Old Person to re-appear in Washington, D.C., for a deposition unless his personal attorney can make a case for the deposition to occur on the Blackfeet Reservation. Old Person will still be a member of the class of plaintiffs.

One of the original lead plaintiffs is the late Mildred Cleghorn, former chairwoman of the Fort Sill Apache Tribe of Oklahoma. She is now being represented by her daughter.

Get the Story:
Old Person wants to remain in trust suit (The Great Falls Tribune 3/9)

Get the Decision:
Removing Earl Old Person as Class Representative (March 5, 2003)

Relevant Links:
Indian Trust: Cobell v. Norton - http://www.indiantrust.com
Cobell v. Norton, Department of Justice - http://www.usdoj.gov/civil/cases/cobell/index.htm
Indian Trust, Department of Interior - http://www.doi.gov/indiantrust

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Norton fights trust fund ruling as going too far (01/09)
Judge rejects Norton's 'absurd' accounting claim (09/23)
Norton says accounting complete for plaintiffs (02/14)
Judge rejects 'improper' request by Norton (02/06)
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