Welcome to the Informational Website for In re Black Farmers Discrimination Litigation Settlement
Welcome to the informational website for the Settlement in In re Black Farmers Discrimination Litigation (Case Number 08-mc-0511 in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia), also known as the “Consolidated Case” or “Pigford II.” The Court in charge of this case ordered this website to provide you with basic information about this case, and what rights you may have. This website does not provide legal advice.
NO NEW CLAIMS : The deadline to file a claim in this case was May 11, 2012. No new claims can be made in this case. News reports indicate that an organization known as the Black Farmers and Agriculturists Association (based in Memphis, TN) may be advising black farmers that there is still an opportunity to seek a recovery in this case and that a payment to BFAA will allow them to file a claim. That is not accurate as the time for filing claims in this case passed more than five years ago.
All timely submitted claims have now been reviewed and decided by the Court-appointed Neutrals. On August 6, 2013 Class Counsel filed an Unopposed Motion for Approval of Distribution of Funds, which the Court granted on August 23, 2013. The Court’s Order approved the distribution of $1,200,425,182.08 as detailed in the Claims Administrator’s Corrected Preliminary Final Accounting (dated August 15, 2013).
Claim determination letters and checks for successful claims have been mailed. Under the terms of the Settlement Agreement, all decisions are final, and there is no process for further review or appeal.
Update:
Lead Class Counsel in the In re Black Farmers Discrimination Litigation (Consolidated Case) are pleased to announce details about the Black Farmers Discrimination Litigation (BFDL) Cy Pres Funds, which are approximately $12 million in settlement funds remaining following the final deadline for successful claimants to cash their settlement checks. Awards from the BFDL Cy Pres Fund will be made to eligible tax-exempt nonprofit organizations serving African-American farmers and/or ranchers according to the intent of the Consolidated Case Settlement Agreement. For more information, click here.