Keepseagle Native American Farmer Class Action Settlement

UPDATE: This settlement has been approved. Class Members have until December 27, 2011 to file a claim to receive settlement benefits. Claim forms and filing instructions can be found at www.IndianFarmSettlement.com.  

Native American farmers and ranchers across the country have started receiving detailed information about their legal rights in the $760 million Keepseagle class action lawsuit settlement. If approved, the historic Keepseagle settlement will resolve discrimination claims related to USDA farm loans and servicing.

Native American farmers and ranchers sued the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) over 11 years ago claiming the USDA discriminated against Native Americans by denying them equal access to credit in the USDA Farm Loan Program. The class action lawsuit alleged the USDA denied thousands of Native American farmers and ranchers the same opportunities to get farm loans or loan servicing that were given to white farmers and ranchers. Plaintiffs also claimed that the USDA did not do outreach to Native American farmers and ranchers or provide them with the technical assistance they needed to prepare applications for loans and loan servicing.

The USDA and plaintiffs in the Native American farmer class action lawsuit, entitled Keepseagle v. Vilsack, announced the proposed $760 million settlement on October 19, 2010. If approved by the court on April 28, 2011, the Keepseagle settlement will include $680 million for cash payments to class members who file valid claims and up to $80 million in USDA loan forgiveness. The USDA has also agreed under the Native American farmer settlement to make improvements to their farm loan programs including, among other things, the establishment of a new federal advisory committee, the Native American Farmer and Rancher Council, as well as adding USDA regional sub-offices to provide education and technical assistance to Native American farmers and ranchers.

Class members eligible to claim money under the Keepseagle class action lawsuit settlement include all Native American farmers and ranchers who:

* Farmed or ranched or attempted to farm or ranch between January 1, 1981 and November 24, 1999; and

* Sought, or attempted to seek, a farm loan from the USDA during that period; and

* Complained about discrimination to the USDA orally or in writing on their own or through a representative, such as a tribal government, during the same time period.

Excluded from making claims under the class action settlement are class members who either experienced discrimination only between January 1 and November 23, 1997; or complained of discrimination only between July 1 and November 23, 1997.

Those who qualify as class members of the Keepseagle class action settlement may be eligible to receive a payment of up to $50,0000 or more and forgiveness of some or all outstanding USDA loans. 

More information on who’s eligible and how to submit a valid claim for the Keepseagle v. Vilsack Native American Farmer & Rancher Class Action Lawsuit Settlement can be found at the Settlement Administrator’s website: www.indianfarmclass.com.