Final deadline in Cobell Settlement, EBCI tribal members owed monies

Kilpatrick Townsend & Stockton LLP, Class Counsel in the Cobell v. Jewell (formerly Cobell v. Salazar) lawsuit, along with GCG, the court approved Claims Administrator, are seeking to locate members of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians who are entitled to participate in the settlement of that lawsuit. The Cobell case was filed in 1996, settled in December 2009, was approved by Congress in December 2010, and received final court approval in November 2012. The total settlement, $3.5 billion, is one of the largest class action settlements against the federal government.

The Cobell case resolves certain claims relating to mismanagement of individual Indian money (“IIM”) accounts and individual trust assets by the federal government. There are approximately 500,000 individuals who are eligible to participate in this settlement. This includes principally individuals who had IIM accounts between approximately 1985 and September 30, 2009 and individuals who owned trust or restricted land as of September 30, 2009.

The US District Court for the District of Columbia has ordered Monday, Nov. 27 as the final deadline for Class Members in the Cobell Settlement or their heirs to submit documentation to Garden City Group, LLC (“GCG”), the Claims Administrator, so that payments can be made. All documentation must be received or postmarked by that date

The determination of a final deadline marks the end of a successful and exhaustive effort by Class Counsel and GCG to find and pay hundreds of thousands of Native American Class Members and their heirs. Those efforts have been incredibly effective, and to date almost $2 billion dollars or over 92 percent of the funds have been distributed. After the deadline, unclaimed funds will be paid out to the Cobell Scholarship Fund administered by Indigenous Education, Inc.

Below is a list of individuals identified by the Department of the Interior as living or deceased members of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians who may be entitled to a payment. Class Members or their heirs wishing to submit documentation to GCG for review via email at Info@IndianTrust.com or U.S. mail to P.O. Box 9577, Dublin, OH 43017-4877. For more information about the Settlement and to read the Court’s order, visit www.IndianTrust.com. You may also call (800) 961-6109 if you are an heir and have questions regarding acceptable documentation.  To retrieve your IIM number please call Sheree Steve (615)-564-6933.