Class Counsel Seek $90.8 Million in African-American Farmers Discrimination Case Settlement

Three lead class attorneys who, for five years or longer, have represented African-American farmers claiming discrimination in government farm loan programs, have filed their fee petition seeking 7.4 percent of the preliminarily approved $1.25 billion settlement, or $90.8 million. In re: Black Farmers Discrimination Litig., Misc. No. 08-0511 (D.D.C., filed August 8, 2011). The petition recites the efforts required to obtain redress for the farmers, who missed the deadline for filing claims under the first such settlement in 1999, including working for congressional approval of laws in 2008 and 2010 establishing a fund to compensate them. According to the petition, the fee award request, to be divided among all class counsel, is “expressly within the range authorized by the Settlement Agreement.”