Appeal of Indian land trust settlement rejected

The U.S. Supreme Court won't consider a Colorado woman's challenge of a $3.4 billion settlement between the federal government and Native American land trust beneficiaries. The settlement was reached in 2009 following years of litigation in which Montana resident Elouise Cobell, who is now deceased, argued government officials mismanaged billions of dollars in land royalties held in trust for Native Americans. Court records show Kimberly Craven's petition asking the Supreme Court to review the settlement was denied Oct. 29. She had argued the settlement enriched the attorneys and the named plaintiffs led by Cobell. The named plaintiffs' attorneys said Wednesday that three other people have agreed to dismiss their appeals in exchange for having their attorneys' fees and expenses paid, so settlement funds are closer to getting distributed.