Indigenous USDA Lawsuit Information -
Press Release December 29, 1999

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PRESS RELEASE

December 29, 1999
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Alexander J. Pires, Jr.,
(202) 331-7050

USDA AGREES TO STOP FORECLOSURES OF NATIVE AMERICAN FARMS

In a direct response to the November 24th class action lawsuit filed by Native Americans, USDA has announced that it has instructed all USDA state and county offices to:
1. refrain from accelerating or foreclosing on any Native American loan and,
2. with respect to any already existing foreclosure, instruct the U.S. Attorney's Office to suspend the foreclosure.

On November 24th, 213 Native American farmers and ranchers filed a class action lawsuit against USDA alleging a 20-year history of systematic denial of loans. The plaintiffs requested monetary relief in the amount of $19,000,000,000.

Lead Counsel, Alexander J. Pires, Jr., responding to the USDA announcement, said "We thank USDA for agreeing to stop the foreclosures until the lawsuit can be resolved. Secretary Glickman should be commended."

Tex Hall, Chairman of the Three Affiliated Tribes and the principle organizer of the lawsuit, stated that "It is good to see that USDA is finally acknowledging that they need to take positive action to prevent our ranchers and farmers from being unnecessarily harmed."
For more information, contact Alexander J. Pires, Jr. at (202) 331-7050.