Still no word on Cobell payments as end of August approaches

Wednesday, August 20, 2014

Indian beneficiaries in Oklahoma demand release of Cobell settlement funds at this protest last year. Photo from Katherine Ware-Perosi / Change.Org

The final payment from the $3.4 billion Cobell trust fund settlement remains in limbo as the end of the month approaches.

Back in May, a federal judge ordered checks to be distributed while appeals continue. Three months later, there is no word on when the money will go out but blame is being laid at the Interior Department.

"The Department of Interior has informed us that it expects to provide the data for the Trust Administration Class (TAC) distributions to GCG in time for payments to begin in early Fall," attorneys for the Cobell plaintiffs said earlier this month It is taking Interior longer to correct some of the land records than Interior had anticipated and they have advised Class Counsel that the calculations should be ready by August 30, 2014."

Garden City Group -- the firm that was appointed by the court to administer the settlement -- is holding informational meetings in Montana this week to discuss the settlement. The firm encourages people to check the whereabouts unknown list to see if their contact information needs to be updated.

Get the Story:
Payments to tribal members coming soon (The Grand Coulee Star 8/20)
Cobell Settlement Checks Could Be Mailed By Fall 2014 (ABC 8/15)