Indigenous USDA Lawsuit Information -
Press Release January, 18, 2000

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PRESS RELEASE

January 18, 2000
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Alexander J. Pires, Jr.,
(202) 331-7050

NATIVE AMERICAN RANCHERS FILE FIRST AMENDED COMPLAINT INCREASING THE NUMBER OF PLAINTIFFS TO 291 IN $19 BILLION CLASS ACTION DISCRIMINATION LAWSUIT AGAINST USDA

On January 13, 2000, the attorneys for Native American ranchers in Keepseagle v. Glickman filed a First Amended Complaint in the United States District Court for the District of Columbia. The amended complaint added 78 additional named plaintiffs, raising the number of plaintiffs from 213 to 291.

Tex Hall, Chairman of the Three Affiliated Tribes and the principle organizer of the lawsuit, stated that "We are very pleased that more and more Native Americans are becoming aware of the class action and are joining the lawsuit."

The class action is before Judge Paul L. Friedman, the District Court Judge who also presided over Pigford v. Glickman, the African American farmers' class action discrimination lawsuit against USDA, which was settled in April, 1999.

Keepseagle is the result of years of systematic discrimination Native American ranchers have suffered at the hands of USDA - denial and delay of funds when applying for USDA credit or disaster programs; being told that there were no loan funds available, while white farmers were given loans; and, having their complaints fall on deaf ears when they complained of this discriminatory treatment.

Lead Counsel, Alexander J. Pires, Jr., stated that "We expect that about 10,000 to 15,000 Native Americans will eventually participate in this lawsuit. We are very encouraged by the present numbers."

For more information regarding the lawsuit, contact Alexander J. Pires, Jr. at (202) 331-7050.