A MATTER OF TRUST: THE CASE OF COBELL v. NORTON
SYMPOSIUM, GONZAGA UNIVERSITY SCHOOL
OF LAW, MARCH 26, 2002
The highly-publicized class action suit filed by Elouise Cobell,
a member of the Blackfeet Nation, versus Gail Norton, Secretary,
Department of the Interior, alleges the squandering of billions
of dollars of lease, royalty, and other payments due individual
Indian land owners for use of their lands. United States District
Court Judge Royce Lamberth found that the Department of the Interior
breached its fiduciary duties by its massive and long-standing mismanagement
of the Individual Indian Money (IIM) Account system. Recently, the
Court conducted contempt proceedings focusing upon the actions of
the Defendants.
Elouise Cobell tells her story and describes the events leading
to the filing of the Class Action and her experiences during the
litigation. Plaintiffs lead attorney, Dennis M. Gingold, Washington,
D.C., a nationally recognized banking attorney, presents the Plaintiffs
case, discusses the elements of the contempt proceedings, and projects
the future prospects for the litigation effort.
A panel of experts debate questions of justice, ethics, and
discernment for attorneys and citizens alike that arise from the
case. Fr. Dan Powers, SJ moderates the group discussion that includes
the views of the Honorable Sandra K. Watts, a judge dealing with
Indian probates, and Fr. David Myers, SJ, experienced with issues
affecting the Tribal members in Arizona.
Dennis M. Gingold concludes the program by describing the requested
remedy: the appointment of a receivership for a full accounting
of the individual Indian trust accounts for over 500,000 beneficiaries;
and the creation of a trust management system that protects the
trust funds of the individual Indian beneficiaries.
The Symposium is free to the public and will be held
at Gonzaga University Law School, 721 N. Cincinnati, Spokane, Washington,
in the Barbieri Courtroom from 9:00 a.m.4:00 p.m., Tuesday, March
26, 2002. Attorneys desiring CLE credit must register by 5:00 p.m.,
March twenty-first.
For further information, please contact Bonnie White, Gonzaga
University School of Law, at 509-323-5791.
