Historic Cobell Settlement Deadline: Just 30 Days More to Send in Documents

SEATTLE, Oct. 26, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- The following statement is being issued by Garden City Group, LLC ("GCG") regarding the Cobell Settlement.

The US District Court for the District of Columbia has ordered November 27, 2017 as the final deadline for Class Members in the Cobell Settlement or their heirs to submit documentation to GCG, the Claims Administrator, so that payments can be made. All documentation must be received or postmarked by November 27, 2017. If you do not claim your settlement payment or provide documentation as an heir before the deadline, GCG will not be able to pay you after the deadline passes. The Court made one exception to this deadline and that is for estates of deceased Class Members which are still pending at that time with the U.S. Department of Interior's Office of Hearing and Appeals ("OHA") as determined by the Department of Interior. Only those estates will have funds held to be distributed once the probate process at OHA is complete.

The determination of a final deadline marks the end of a successful and exhaustive effort by Class Counsel and GCG to find and pay hundreds of thousands of Native American Class Members and their heirs. Those efforts have been incredibly effective, and to date almost $1.2 billion dollars of the funds have been distributed. While Class Counsel and GCG have researched or received updated address and contact information for many of the missing class members, there are still others that have not been able to be paid or have had checks returned as undeliverable or remain uncashed.  After the deadline and as provided for in the settlement agreement, unclaimed funds will be paid to the Cobell Scholarship Fund for use in further advancing the education of Native Americans.

Class Members or their heirs wishing to submit documentation to GCG for review need to do so no later than November 27, 2017. Documentation or questions may be sent via email at [email protected] or U.S. mail to The Indian Trust Settlement c/o GCG, P.O. Box 9577, Dublin, OH 43017-4877. For more information about the Settlement and to read the Court's order, please visit www.IndianTrust.com. You may also call (800) 961-6109 if you are an heir and have questions regarding acceptable documentation.

SOURCE GCG

SOURCE GCG