Supreme Court turns down Dakota trust mismanagement case

Monday, March 10, 2014  

The U.S. Supreme Court today declined petitions in the long-running Dakota trust mismanagement case.

The Wolfchild lawsuit began more than a decade ago. The plaintiffs accused the federal government of failing to place land in trust in Minnesota in the late 1800s.

Judge Charles Lettow of the Court of Federal Claims repeatedly sided with the descendants. He ruled that the plaintiffs were owed money for any activity that occurred on the land, up until 1980, when he said Congress severed the trust.

The Federal Circuit Court of Appeals, however, reversed. A majority held that Congress did not create a "money-mandating" duty to the Dakota descendants.

The plaintiffs filed two petitions with the Supreme Court in hopes of reviving their claims. But the justices declined Wolfchild v. US and Zephier v. US without comment in an order list today.

Turtle Talk has posted documents from the Supreme Court docket in Wolfchild v. US.

Federal Circuit Court of Appeals Decision:
Wolfchild v. US (September 27, 2013)

Supreme Court asked to hear Dakota trust mismanagement case (02/19)
Dakota descendants back in court over mismanagement of trust (1/28)
Native Sun News: Loyal Mdewakanton Dakota win a partial ruling (1/19)
Dakota descendants win another round in trust management suit (1/11)