Lumbee farmers file claims in discrimination case
- Details
- Parent Category: News
- Category: First Nations & International News
- Published: 26 July 2011
Pembroke, North Carolina (AP) July 2011
Farmers who belong to the Lumbee Tribe have begun filing claims now that a nationwide discrimination case involving the federal government has been settled.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture has settled a $680 million lawsuit on behalf of Native American farmers who said they were denied loans over several decades because of discrimination.
Lawyers handling claims are operating out of a converted barn on a Lumbee farmers property in Pembroke. Depending on their documentation, farmers can get up to either $50,000 or $250,000 from the settlement, plus debt forgiveness.
USDA officials say theres no way to know how many farmers are eligible for the payouts.