Court Approves $1.25 Billion for Black Farmers

Black farmers allegedly discriminated against regarding government loans and other benefits will receive a $1.25 billion settlement, the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia decided Oct. 27. The final settlement approval, which will compensate about 40,000 late-filing class members, resolves race discrimination litigation against the U.S. Department of Agriculture that began almost 15 years ago. The court said it will later approve an aggregate attorneys’ fees award of between $50 million and $90 million. In re Black Farmers Discrimination Litigation, D.D.C., No. 08-0511-PLF. Full text at http://op.bna.com/class.nsf/r?Open=jkas-8n3qen.