Jodi Rave: Appeals court to hear Cobell case

Monday, November 24, 2008  

"A U.S. Court of Appeals panel of judges has agreed to grant an appeal made by both Native landowners and the Interior Department as part of a 12-year-long lawsuit supposedly brought to an end by a federal court ruling this summer.

It was announced on Friday that three circuit judges agreed to grant hearings in the Cobell vs. Kempthorne lawsuit.

Elouise Cobell, lead plaintiff from Browning, said she hoped the Court of Appeals would expedite the date for both sides to make oral arguments because “too many people have been dying,” referring to elders represented in the class-action suit who will never receive their share of a monetary award settlement. An Interior Department spokesman was not available for comment.

Lawyers for landowners and the government filed appeals in August after both disagreed with a final ruling made by U.S. District Court Judge James Robertson, in which he ordered a $455.6 million restitution to Native landowners. The Interior Department's trust fund management system has been the subject of harsh reviews by Congress and in thousands of pages of court filings."

Get the Story:
Judges to hear Native, federal appeals in Interior trust suit (The Missoulian 11/22)

Court Order:
Cobell v. Kempthorne (November 18, 2008)

Related Stories:
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Voice for the Voiceless: Cobell lawsuit a warning (11/13)
Opinion: Scoundrels and scandals at Interior (10/09)
Jodi Rave: Corruption 'nothing new' at Interior (09/22)
Government appeals decision in Cobell case (9/19)
Cobell: Judge gives Interior a pass on trust duties (9/16)
Appeal stretches Cobell lawsuit into another year (9/16)
Appeal stretches Cobell lawsuit into another year (9/16)
Cobell seeks to resolve trust issues on appeal (09/09)
Cobell: Lawsuit more than a question of dollars (9/8)
Jodi Rave: Cobell set for appeal of $455.6M decision (9/8)
Judge certifies appeal of Cobell accounting decision (9/5)
Cobell headed to appeals court to resolve $455.6M (8/29)
Judge to hold first hearing after Cobell decision (8/28)
Howard Dean slams McCain for treatment of Cobell (8/26)
Native finance group supports appeal in Cobell case (8/20)
Off the Reservation: Cobell ruling a slap in the face (8/15)
Jodi Rave: Interior can't find owners of $73M (8/13)
Cobell to appeal $455.6M ruling 'as soon as possible' (8/13)
Jodi Rave: Cobell to appeal $455.6M decision (8/11)
Cobell final ruling of $455.6M disappoints (8/8)
Judge issues final ruling in Cobell trust case (8/7)
Judge to issue final ruling in Cobell case in August (06/26)
Judge to hear final arguments in landmark Cobell trial (06/25)