The parties in the Cobell Indian trust fund lawsuit continue to discuss mediation of the seven-year-old case.

The plaintiffs and Department of Interior officials have met at least twice in recent months. Associate Deputy Secretary Jim Cason and attorney David Bernhardt are representing the Interior.

There is no agreement yet on who might mediate the case. Dennis Gingold, an attorney for the plaintiffs, told the Associated Press it has to be someone of high stature. He suggested former president Jimmy Carter or former Sen. Robert Dole, a Republican.

Congressional leaders, however, are hailing the continuation of talks as "historic." The Republicans and Democrats on the Senate Indian Affairs Committee and the House Resources Committee yesterday issued statements praising the process. Sen. Daniel Inouye (D-Hawaii), vice chairman of the Indian panel, also spoke about mediation at the National Congress of American Indians (NCAI) yesterday.

The plaintiffs wrote SCIA last spring to support mediation. Norton did not respond until November.

Get the Story:
Indians, feds to resume talks (The Denver Post 2/24)
U.S. OKs non-binding talks on Indian claims (The Arizona Republic 2/24)
Lawmaker urges talks in trust dispute (The Daily Oklahoman 2/24)
pwpwd
Parties In 8-Year-Old Indian Lawsuit Agree To Mediation Talks (AP 2/23)

Relevant Links:
Indian Trust: Cobell v. Norton - http://www.indiantrust.com
Cobell v. Norton, Department of Justice - http://www.usdoj.gov/civil/cases/cobell/index.htm
Indian Trust, Department of Interior - http://www.doi.gov/indiantrust

Related Stories:
Cobell continues fight for accounting of billions (12/19)
Lamberth orders DOI to turn over IT reports (12/12)
DOI fares poorly on computer security report card (12/11)
Trust fund rider faces test in courtroom (11/24)
Trust reform a big issue at NCAI conference (11/21)
Tribes still frustrated on trust reform (11/20)
Norton finally responds to trust settlement (11/20)
Bush officials blasted by tribal leaders (11/19)
Cobell plaintiffs disputing trust fund rider (11/17)
Appeals court puts trust fund ruling on hold (11/14)
Norton using rider to seek stay of Cobell case (11/12)
Editorial: White House actions on trust 'contemptible' (11/7)
Quick fixes won't solve trust fund problems (11/5)
President Bush 'on the hook' for trust fund delays (11/5)
Norton testimony sought by plaintiffs in trust case (11/5)
Tribal company's work on trust accounting on hold (11/5)
Daschle criticizes 'shameful' rider in DOI budget bill (11/04)
Norton welcomes time-out in Cobell trust fund case (11/4)
Norton appealing Indian trust fund ruling (11/3)
Norton says White House behind trust fund rider (11/3)
House approves trust fund rider in DOI bill (10/31)
Campbell pushes action on trust fund suit (10/30)
Battle brews in House over DOI budget bill (10/30)
Cobell rallies support for trust fund case (10/28)
DOI bill halts Indian trust fund case (10/24)
Bill targets Indian trust fund suit (10/22)
House chairman supports self-governance rider (10/14)
Self-governance tribes fear impact of reorganization (10/09)
Lamberth lays out future of Indian trust reform (09/26)
Court report finds undervaluation of Navajo lands (08/21)
Administration eyes consolidation of Indian appraisals (08/15)
Tally for private attorney fees in Cobell case rises (07/24)
Congress hacks Bush's accounting funds (7/16)
Swimmer partly right on trust fund rider (7/14)
Bush official balks at large settlement for Cobell (7/10)
On trust, lawmakers take Bush officials at face value (06/25)
Private attorneys reap benefits on Cobell case (06/24)
Norton offered settlement funds for IIM trust (6/20)
Lamberth criticizes interference with trust fund case (05/22)
Bush administration turns to Congress on trust (04/04)