$3.4 Billion Indian Land Settlement Upheld

(HELENA, Mont.) – A U.S. Appeals Court has upheld a $3.4 billion settlement between the federal government and several thousand Native Americans. The plaintiffs argued that the Department of Interior had mismanaged Indian land trust royalties. The defendants argued that some Native Americans were being drastically overcompensated. The three-judge panel representing the District of Columbia said the deal approved by Congress two years ago is fair, and will likely avoid future years of litigation.