Elouise Cobell, lead plaintiff in the landmark class action $3.4 billion Indian trust case, uses her frequent Ask Elouise column to answer questions about the settlement, and updates people on the process that should eventually result in money for thousands of Native Americans.

The most recent Ask Elouise letter concerns last week’s failure by Congress to approve the $3.4 billion settlement reached last December.

The hopes of Cobell and her fellow plaintiffs in the case now rest on the lame-duck congressional session scheduled for after the Nov. 2 election. Cobell writes:

Between now and October 15, I will consult with our attorneys and our champions in Congress to determine if (and how) our settlement legislation can be passed, as well as our options if we determine that there is no reasonable chance of passage.

The settlement has its own website, with a section for Frequently Asked Questions.

People with questions for the column can e-mail Cobell at askelouise@cobellsettlement.com, or send a letter to:

Ask Elouise
Cobell Settlement
PO Box 9577
Dublin, OH 43017-4877

Gwen Florio

Tags: Cobell v. Salazar, Congress, Elouise Cobell, Gwen Florio, Indian trust case