YouTube: Secretary of Interior Jewell Press Conference / Choctaw Nation
The Tulsa World praises a $186 million trust mismanagement settlement for the Choctaw Nation and the Chickasaw Nation of Oklahoma:
The tribes filed suit in 2005, alleging the Interior Department failed to protect the tribes’ interests when it sold more than 1.3 million acres of southeastern Oklahoma timber land between 1908 and 1940. Timber companies earned billions from the land, money attorneys for the Choctaws and Chickasaws argued belonged to the tribes. Under the terms of the settlement, the Ada-based Chickasaw Nation will receive $46.5 million, and the Durant-based Choctaw Nation will receive $139.5 million. The settlement falls in line with other efforts by the federal government in recent years. In 2009, the Interior Department agreed to a $3.4 billion settlement to a case of alleged mismanagement of American Indian trust assets. The so-called Cobell case has been described as one of the largest class-action action cases in U.S. legal history. Tuesday’s agreement is the fifth largest tribal trust settlement to date. Corrupt mismanagement of assets is part of the sordid history of decades of federal Indian policy.Get the Story:
Editorial: Federal government resolves huge lawsuit with Choctaws and Chickasaws (The Tulsa World 10/12) Relevant Documents:
Joint Stipulation | Order Approving Joint Stipulation | Choctaw Nation Resolution | Chickasaw Nation Resolution
Join the Conversation
Related Stories
Choctaw Nation and Chickasaw Nation celebrate
trust settlement (10/8) Secretary Jewell heads to Oklahoma for tribal trust settlement (10/5)
Oklahoma tribes settle trust mismanagement lawsuit for $186M (9/28)
Final guidance issued on taxation of tribal per capita payments (9/18)
Law Article: Tribal deferred per capita plans can reduce taxes (09/15)
Choctaw Nation and Chickasaw Nation to settle trust litigation (7/14)
More than 70 tribes have completed trust fund settlements (06/03)
Law Article: IRS issues guidance on taxation of tribal per caps (03/19)
IRS issues tax guidance on per capita payouts from trust funds (3/10)
IRS hosts phone forum on tax issues and recent settlements (06/11)
IRS official questioned about taxation of per capita payments (9/9)
More tribal trust fund settlements expected in coming weeks (09/20)
OST urges Indian beneficiaries to read IRS notice on per caps (09/12)
IRS affirms per capita payouts from trust settlements not taxable (9/6)
Social Security Administration issues ruling on trust payouts (08/23)
Expect more announcements for tribal trust fund settlements (3/1)
