The fairness hearing for the $3.4 billion settlement to the Indian trust fund lawsuit begins on Monday.

Judge Thomas F. Hogan will determine whether the settlement is fair. It provides $1.5 billion in direct payments to Indian beneficiaries and creates a $1.9 billion land consolidation fund to buy fractionated interest from willing beneficiaries.

Hogan also will determine attorneys' fees. The Cobell plaintiffs have requested as much as $223 million but the Obama administration says $50 million is owed.

The hearing takes place at 10am at the federal district courthouse in Washington, D.C.

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Cobell fairness hearing starts Monday; billions of dollars at stake (The Billings Gazette 6/17)