Judge James Robertson will hold a hearing this afternoon to discuss the $455.6 million he said the Cobell plaintiffs are owed for the mismanagement of their trust funds.

In his August 7 decision, Robertson envisioned some type of proceeding to determine how to distribute the judgment. He also hoped the plaintiffs and the federal government could come to some type of settlement in the long-running case.

Lead plaintiff Elouise Cobell, a member of the Blackfeet Nation of Montana, has vowed an appeal of Robertson's decision. The plaintiffs sought a much higher amount for the government's failure to conduct a historical accounting of the Individual Indian Money (IIM) trust.

The amount awarded by Robertson was very close to the figure that the Bush administration said was owed to Indian beneficiaries.

The hearing takes place at 3pm in Courtroom 23A of the federal courthouse in Washington, D.C.

Historical Accounting Decision:
Cobell v. Kempthorne (August 7, 2008)

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