Steady Progress in Cobell v Norton Class Action Lawsuit: Plaintiffs, U.S.
Agree to Mediators in Trust Fund Lawsuit
Washington, D.C. - After months of encouragement from the Senate
Indian Affairs and the House Resources Committees, on Friday attorneys for
the class of several hundred thousand Indian plaintiffs and representatives
for the United States agreed to have Judge Charles Renfrew and Mr. John
Bickerman serve as co-mediators of the 8-year old Cobell v Norton lawsuit.
Beginning in December, 2003, the plaintiffs, defendants, and congressional
staff have held a series of intense discussions designed to reach a mediated
settlement. Renfrew and Bickerman have indicated their availability and
willingness to serve as co-mediators and were selected from among 8
candidates interviewed by the parties.
“I am very pleased the parties have come together and agreed to have these
two distinguished men help bring a reasonable end to this case,” said Ben
Nighthorse Campbell, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs.
"I commend the parties for agreeing to have these two gentlemen, known for
their fairness and equity, aid in the long overdue resolution of this
case," said Committee on Resources Chairman Richard W. Pombo. "This is
another hopeful step in a very complicated case in which hundreds of
thousands of individual Indians await a final and just conclusion."
Charles Renfrew was appointed as a Federal district court judge in
California by President Nixon and served as Deputy Attorney General of the
United States during the Carter Administration. He has also served as
general counsel of Chevron Corporation and is currently Chairman of the
Board of Directors of CPR Institute for Dispute Resolution.
Mr. Bickerman is a full-time attorney-mediator in Washington, DC. Over the
past 10 years he has mediated complex environmental, public policy, and
commercial disputes, including disputes involving Indian tribes. He has
taught dispute resolution courses, written articles and edited a book on
the subject, focusing on the ethical issues confronting the dispute
resolution profession. He is the Secretary of the Dispute Resolution
Section of the American Bar Association.
The Individual Indian Money Account system was created in the late 19th
century when vast tracts of tribally owned lands were broken up and allotted
to individual Indians. The revenues from oil, gas, timber and other
resources were deposited in accounts managed by the United States Department
of Interior for the Indians.
Daniel K. Inouye, Vice Chairman of the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs,
said, “I pray that we are finally on our way to resolution of this
long-standing litigation. Too many beneficiaries have died while waiting
for this matter to be resolved.”
U.S. Rep. Nick J. Rahall, (D-WV), the Ranking Democrat on the House
Resources Committee, said, ""I am pleased that mediators have been selected
so that negotiations can move forward in good faith, as the eyes of Indian
Country will be watching to see who is serious about resolving this
lawsuit. We cannot fail in this endeavor as the scars of this injustice
are so deep and a resolution is so close."
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For Chairman Campbell, contact Paul Moorehead (202) 224-2251
For Vice-Chairman Inouye, contact Patricia Zell, (202) 224-2251
For Chairman Pombo, contact Nicole Andrews or Brian Kennedy, (202) 226-9019
For Representative Rahall, Kristen Bossi, (202) 226-1736
April 5, 2004