Law | Trust

Quapaw Tribe seeks $175M in trust mismanagement lawsuit

Tuesday, March 26, 2013

The Quapaw Tribe of Oklahoma is seeking $175 million in damages for the alleged mismanagement of its trust resources.

The lawsuit was filed in the U.S. Court of Federal Claims. It alleges numerous breaches of trust in relation to the management of the tribe's land and natural resources.

"There is a legacy in our tribe concerning the lands and assets that were stolen from our people or that were mismanaged.'' Chairman John Berrey said in a press release. "In order for our people to have closure on this history, these claims needs to be heard in a court."

In 2002, the tribe filed a lawsuit that accused the federal government of mismanaging its trust funds and trust assets. A settlement in 2004 required the Interior Department to prepare historical accounting statements for the tribe and some of its members.

The process was completed in 2010 but the tribe wasn't able to reach a settlement with the Obama administration unlike dozens of others in Indian Country. Berrey blamed the Justice Department for not agreeing to a deal.

"Our first choice was to sit down and talk, and we were very disappointed with the Justice Department's position," Berrey said in the press release.

The lawsuit was filed after the House passed H.Res.668 to refer to the dispute to the Court of Claims. Even if the court were to side with the tribe, Congress would need to take action to implement a settlement.

Get the Story:
Quapaw Tribe sues U.S. government over mining clean-up (The Joplin Globe 3/26)

Relevant Documents:
DRAFT: Quapaw-DOI Settlement (December 2003)