UNIQUE DISTRICT COURT BENCH TRIAL AFFIRMS INTERIOR'S INABILITY TO RESOLVE LONG-STANDING LEASE AND ROYALTY PAYMENT OBLIGATIONS TO INDIANS,ENDS IN KIND OF A STALEMATE;WAS CONGRESS 'NUTS'?

摘要

A recent nearly 150-plus page decision of the U.S.District Court for the District of Columbia (Elouise Pepion Cobell,et al.,v.Dirk Kempthorne,Secretary of the Interior,et al.),wrapped up a 10-day bench trial in October 2007,and years of litigation,with a determination that the Department of Interior has not remedied,nor is remedying,lease,land and royalty payment inequities,totaling in the billions of dollars,owed to individuals on Indian reservations.