Tribal chairman raises class action lawsuit concerns
Tribal chairman raises class action lawsuit concerns
Deadline to file claim in massive lawsuit is April 20
By MARVIN BAKER
EDITOR
Three Affiliated Tribes Chairman Tex Hall testified on behalf of all American Indians seeking a claim in the Cobell class action lawsuit, but he has also addressed some concerns that lawyers in the case are calling compromises.
There are actually two separate classes in the lawsuit and lead attorneys Dennis Gingold and Justin Gilbert were in New Town recently to discuss them and let people know about pending deadlines in which to file a claim.
One is considered the historical accounting class and the second is called the trust adminstration class. The $3.4 billion suit alleges the federal government mismanaged Indian funds held by the Bureau of Indian Affairs. The suit claims the federal government violated its duties by mismanaging trust and individual accounts over several years.
