Keepseagle v. Glickman

No. 1:99CV03119 (D. D.C. filed Oct. 11, 2000) ; Clearinghouse Number: 53852

Description

Native American Farmers Sue Department of Agriculture for Discrimination in Farm Credit Programs

Abstract

Suing the U.S. Department of Agriculture secretary, a class of Native American farmers and ranchers alleges systematic discrimination against it in farm credit and other farm programs. The allegations and claims are similar to those Hispanic American farmers brought in Garcia v. Glickman (Clearinghouse No. 53853) and African American farmers in Pigford v. Glickman, 185 F.R.D. 82 (D.D.C. 1999) (Clearinghouse No. 52,961). Plaintiffs say that, because of their race, defendant did not assist them with applications, denied their applications for credit or other farm programs, supplied loans late or less money than they needed for adequate farming, and failed to investigate their discrimination complaints. Plaintiffs report that Farmers Home Administration officials made numerous racially demeaning remarks. Other specific allegations include, for example, a plaintiff who was denied emergency disaster loans after disease and a blizzard took many of his calves, even though his region had been declared a federal disaster area and most white farmers received emergency loans. Two plaintiff family members say that local officials advised them to sell their cattle in the fall and buy them back in the spring to minimize losses in a falling market. They say that the official required them to apply the proceeds of the sale to their operating loans, then denied them a loan in the spring to repurchase cattle. Plaintiffs claim violation of Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, in addition to the Equal Credit Opportunity Act and Administrative Procedure Act claims raised in Garcia v. Glickman. [Editor’s note: For more information on legal claims and alleged harm, see the case report on Garcia v. Glickman, in this issue.]

Additional Information

Attorney Information
Docket Date
2000-10-11 00:00:00+00:00

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