Cobell Lawsuit & Settlement

Transcript posted from fairness hearing for Cobell trust fund case





The transcript from the June 20 fairness hearing in the Cobell trust fund lawsuit has been posted online.

Judge Thomas F. Hogan approved the $3.4 billion settlement to the case at the end of the proceeding. He heard from the plaintiffs, the Obama administration and 12 Indian beneficiaries who objected to the deal.

"I feel that this settlement is nothing more than a cover-up," said Ben Carnes, a member of the Choctaw Nation. "You know, pitch a few crumbs -- a few dollars out 19 here, and get them quiet, and now you can never bring up these issues again."

Hogan said he will issue a written decision approving the settlement.

Related Stories:
Ken Salazar: Cobell settlement a big step toward trust reform (06/28)
Letter: Attorneys take excessive fees in trust fund settlement (6/28)
Editorial: Victory with $3.4B settlement of Indian trust lawsuit (6/27)
WPR: Lac du Flambeau chair hopes BIA improves trust system (6/27)
Upwards of 30K in Arizona to share in $3.4B Cobell settlement (6/27)
In These Times: Fractionation a big issue in Cobell settlement (6/27)
Ben Carnes: Cobell settlement a knife in Indian people's backs (6/22)
Blog: Crime of the century with Indian trust fund management (6/22)
Judge approves $3.4B settlement in Cobell trust fund lawsuit (6/21)
Schedule for fairness hearing for Cobell trust fund settlement (6/20)
Quapaw Tribe tries to opt out of Cobell trust fund settlement (6/20)
Judge to hold fairness hearing for Cobell trust fund settlement (6/17)
Jerilyn DeCoteau: Cobell settlement just doesn't feel right (6/6)
Fairness hearing in Cobell settlement scheduled for June 20 (5/26)

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