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More than 400,000 Native Americans from numerous tribal groups received an early Christmas present last week when the federal government began mailing them $1,000 checks under the landmark $3.4 billion Cobell v. Salazar class action lawsuit settlement.
The Cobell v. Salazar settlement was one of the largest class actions ever filed against the United States, and accused the government of mismanaging money owed to Native Americans under trust funds. The alleged mismanagement dated as far back as the 1880s.
The Indian trust class action settlement was originally settled in December 2009 and later approved by Congress in November 2010. An appeal was filed and the case was held up in court for nearly two years. In May 2012, an appeals court rejected the appeal and upheld the $3.4 billion Indian trust settlement as fair, reasonable and adequate.
On December 12, 2012, the court filed an order directing the Claims Administrator to commence distribution of payments to Class Members no later than December 24, 2012. However, there are thousands of eligible Class Members that have still not filed claims.
According to the Claims Administrator, nearly 40,000 Historical Accounting Class Members are shown as “whereabouts unknown,” and another 10,000 have no contact information in the records furnished by Interior. If you are a member of the Historical Accounting Class and are not currently receiving statements on your IIM account from the government, then you need to provide contact information to the Claims Administrator by calling 1-800-961-6109 or entering the information at www.IndianTrust.com.
In addition, the court has entered a final deadline for submission of claims for the Indian trust class action lawsuit settlement. Any claim forms must be postmarked by March 1, 2013. Claim Forms and more information on the Cobell v. Salazar Indian Trust Class Action Lawsuit Settlement can be found online at www.IndianTrust.com.
UPDATE 1: Second Cobell v. Salazar Settlement Checks Expected Early 2014.
UPDATE 2: More than 30,000 Class Members of the Cobell v. Salazar Indian trust class action settlement are still awaiting payments. Class Counsel explains why.
UPDATE 3: According to the Settlement Administrator, the final round of payments from the Indian Trust settlement could be made in early Fall 2014.
UPDATE 4: A federal judge approved the distribution of payments to more than 15,000 Class Members whose records were missing from the Department of Interior. The first checks were mailed Sept. 15, 2014. Learn more.
UPDATE 5: If you were an Indian Trust beneficiary, you may be entitled to payment from a $3.4 billion class action settlement. More than 30,000 individuals could qualify for benefits from the Indian Trust settlement. Update your contact information and file a claim by Nov. 27, 2017 to get cash from this settlement.
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80 thoughts onCobell v. Salazar Indian Trust Settlement Checks Mailed!
to all people that recived claim forms by mail, check out the big white envolope that it came in some very confidentla info was exposed , let people know that you do not appericate this and take care
I don’t thinkthat anybody is monirtering the problems we are having.I see this as mismangement all over again who can give us stright answers that we need. it’s the same generic answers that get us nothing I very much know who you people feel.i am still nowhere after 30 +calls to the 800no.
RINCON LUISENO TRIBE
PLZ LET KNOW IF I”m GOING TO RECIEVIE A CHECK MY KIDS DID.WHEN MY PAYMENT IS COMING?
How many tribes kept all but $300, which was sent to each tribal member? Balance to “pay the tribe’s bills”?
Filed claim form June 2011. Called thecall center they said they don’t have my claim in computer sent it again Jan. 2013 priority mail called again today and said they received all document. But can’t tell me when or if I’m going to receive a payment I filed a claim because my mother is in the system, but she passed away 2008. And me and my sisters are heirs to her iim account. I guess we just wait. I think its weird that call center gets paid for receiving are calls but its really no help.:(
does anyone know if this includes the blackfoot reservation ?not blackfeet blackfoot rez. in sisika alberta.?please let me know soon..
Try this number-(701)477-3828 and keep trying..eventually they will answer. At first it sounds like it isn’t going to ring but it will.
Please, if anyone else is having issues like I am having please tell me. I need to know that I’m not the only one. I received my check and I cashed my check by opening an account with my bank, then at the beginning of this month that tell me that they are closing my account cause of suspected counterfeit check that had been cashed. I am not a criminal. Why did this happen. Twice I have called their toll free number that was on their website, and both times I have been told that they are escalating my issue and that they’ll call me back, told to wait which both times I have for 24 to 48 hours. I’m becoming impatient with waiting which is understandable seeing how my financial future is on the line. If someone else is having this same thing happen to them please speak up. Did you sort things out? Also to those who are going to receive checks, let my story urge you to make sure there is no mistakes with your check.Thank you for your time.
Eric, Ken here. On this blog, this is the second post referring to the Claims Administrator (Garden Group?) actually mailing out fake checks. This is crazy and needs to be reported to the proper authorities. Contact your bank and ask for information leading to who wrote the check and file a criminal report. Does anyone believe another class action law suit needs to be filed? I haven’t read this yet so I thought I’d throw that in. Any takers? I have read where one blogger demanded interest accrued on everyone’s late payment. Someone start a new class action lawsuit on facebook where people who feel ripped off can sign up. How many signatures are needed? My girlfriend said I’d never get a check. This situation is the weirdest ….brain ache I’ve seen affecting a staggering amount of individuals.
I just hope a lot of the money goes for Indian education,
Good day all,
Ken
ima heir, therefor they told me heirs r the LAST ONES TO B PROCESSED! STILL WAITIN 4 MINE 2!
I like many of you are being told lies still. if anything it should of been awarded by degree of blood instead of telling us that we don’t exist.