U.S. Must Face Tribe’s $10 Million Forest Management Suit

The Biden administration must face claims that it’s failing to meet timber harvest targets in the Yakama Forest in Washington, the Federal Claims Court said in allowing a tribe’s lawsuit seeking $10 million in damages to proceed.

The Justice Department argued the Confederated Tribes and Bands of the Yakama Nation’s and Yakama Forest Product’s breach of fiduciary duties claim is “based solely on the government’s failure to maximize timber harvests and the resulting revenue.” But the failure to maximize revenue isn’t the only specific duty the government allegedly breached, according to the U.S. Court of Federal Claims.

The complaint contains ...