American Indian leaders hope for resolution in lawsuit with USDA
Bismarck Tribune
Brian Gehring
September 11, 2009
Lawyers for American Indian farmers and ranchers involved in a class-action lawsuit against the U.S. Department of Agriculture say they are prepared to go to trial if the case is not settled beforehand.
At a panel discussion Thursday at the Bismarck Civic Center, attorneys and tribal leaders said the case, which was filed 10 years ago, will be ready to go to trial next month.
Joe Sellers, lead attorney in the case, which was filed in 1997 under then-USDA Secretary Dan Glickman, said his team intends to press the Obama administration to settle the case as was done with African American farmers earlier.