Indianz.Com > News > Final ruling in Cobell case expected by mid-July

Final ruling in Cobell case expected by mid-July
Friday, June 20, 2008
Filed Under: Cobell

The federal judge handling the Indian trust fund lawsuit said on Thursday that he expects to issue a final ruling by mid-July.

Judge James Robertson convened a trial to determine how much money, if any, is owed to Indian beneficiaries for the federal government's failure to complete a historical accounting of their trust funds. The plaintiffs claim $58 billion in restitution while the Department of Justice says very little money is at issue.

The trial began June 9 in the federal district courthouse in Washington, D.C. The plaintiffs rested their primary case on June 11 and the government rested its defense yesterday.

The parties will be back in court next Tuesday, when the plaintiffs will present one witness for rebuttal. Both sides will also present closing arguments.

Get the Story:
Cobell lawsuit: Government owes tribal members $58B (The Journal Record 6/20)
Decision nears in Cobell Settlement Case as Expectations by Some Account Holders Fall Short (The Native American Times 6/19)

Related Stories:
En Francais: Elouise Cobell ready for battle (6/19)
Osage Nation seeks to intervene in Cobell case (6/19)
Cobell judge won't rule early on final trial (6/18)
Cobell to appear on NPR program 'Tell Me More' (6/16)
Jodi Rave: Testimony continues in historic Cobell trial (6/16)
Letter: Indians kept poor by federal government (6/16)
Osage trust funds at issue in Cobell lawsuit (6/13)
Editorial: $58B trust payout more than fair (6/13)
Editorial: Indians short-changed by trustee (6/13)
Cobell plaintiffs rest case in trust fund trial (6/12)
Cobell plaintiffs focus on $58B claim at trial (6/11)
Trial seeks to resolve Indian trust fund lawsuit (6/11)
Judge opens landmark trial in Cobell trust fund case (6/10)
Jodi Rave: Cobell happy with opening day of trial (6/10)
Jodi Rave: Cobell trial begins in Washington DC (6/9)
Cobell trust fund case set for final trial (6/3)
After six-plus years, BIA website finally online (05/27)
BIA to be fully online in a couple of months (5/21)
Interior heads back online after disconnect (5/15)
Judge issues pre-trial order in Cobell trust case (5/13)
Bush administration responds to Cobell $58B claim (04/11)
'Rough justice' seen in resolving Cobell case (4/7)
House panel threatens Cobell accounting cut (4/4)
Letter: A small spark of justice in Cobell case (3/31)
Cobell plaintiffs say $58B owed for Indian trust (3/21)
Cobell case set for resolution in court (3/6)
Judge sets June 9 trial to resolve Cobell case (3/5)
Judge to hold Cobell hearing this Wednesday (3/3)
Next hearing in Cobell case set for March 5 (02/21)
Resolution appears near in Cobell trust case (2/19)
Editorial: Settle 'botched' Indian trust fund (02/06)
Editorial: Settle the Indian trust fund lawsuit (2/4)
Kempthorne reiterates $7B Indian trust offer (2/1)
Editorial: A remedy for 'neglect' of Indian trust (2/1)
Cobell: 'Great day in Indian Country' (1/31)
Judge: Cobell historical accounting 'impossible' (1/30)
Cobell statement on historical accounting decision (1/30)
Jim Cason: Historical accounting facts (01/18)