Appeals court hears Indian trust case

[May 11, 2009]  WASHINGTON (AP) -- A federal appeals court will consider whether American Indian plaintiffs are entitled to $455 million in a long-running case involving claims the government cheated them out of land royalties.

The 13-year lawsuit claims the Indians were swindled out of billions of dollars in oil, gas, grazing, timber and other royalties overseen by the Interior Department since 1887.

The Indian plaintiffs had sought $47 billion. Last year, a federal trial court recommended the $455 million figure.

Both sides are appealing that decision and arguments are set for Monday in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit. The government has argued that the court does not have the jurisdiction to award the money at all.

The class-action suit deals covers about 500,000 Indians and their heirs.

[Associated Press; By MARY CLARE JALONICK]

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