The Network of Farm Groups and Advocates has asked Federal Judge Paul Friedman to extend the Pigford II claims period in the Black Farmers Class Action lawsuit by 90 days past the current May 11, 2012 deadline

The seven groups led by the Federation of Southern Cooperatives sent the presiding judge in the case a letter on April 4, 2012 requesting the extension. Another letter has been sent to the Judge this week with the signatures of over 100 social justice, religious, civil rights, farm and rural organizations supporting the request of the Network.

The letter says in part, “We support their request for this modest extension to be sure the settlement reaches all eligible claimants and give them an opportunity to participate in the lawsuit. Working at the grassroots level and holding countless outreach meetings about the case, these organizations are still finding eligible farmers every day who are not aware of the claims process and how they go about filing a successful claim.”

The letter goes on to say, that the Network anticipates that 30,000 claims will be filed by the May 11 deadline. Then it says, “We are aware that there are almost 60,000 claimants on the 5g “late claims” list and 30,000 more claimants on the “late-late” claims list. The projected 30,000 claims sent to the Claims Administrator are between a third and a half of all potential claimants.  We feel Class Counsel and its partners in the case could and should do better in reaching a greater proportion of the eligible claimants. We feel an extension of 90 days in the claims period will help reach many of the remaining people.”

The Network expresses concern that many farmers have had an address change during the ten years that the second part of the lawsuit has been in progress. The letter states, “We are especially concerned about farmers who have passed on since filing their late claim petitions. In many cases, the next of kin and heirs of these claimants are just learning that they are eligible to pursue the claims of deceased relatives. More time is needed for these people to pursue the claims of deceased relatives.”

Finally the letter argues that extension would not significantly delay the case. It says, “A modest extension of 90 days will not significantly affect the payment timetable in this case, which is a concern to all of us. This extension would not delay the ongoing efforts to review and approve the claims that have been or will be received by May 11, 2012. It would give a small amount of additional time to those eligible claimants who are just learning of their opportunities and responsibilities in the case, to file a successful claim. These claims could then be reviewed at the end of the process and the additional time added to the total process would be small relative to the measure of justice for those who are included by the claims period extension.”

Farmers or heirs of farmers who filed a late claim should have received a barcoded 15 page claim form from EPIQ, the Pigford II Claims Administrator.

See if you know that you made a “late claim” in the period October 13, 1999 to June 18, 2008, but not as yet received a claim form, you must contact the Pigford II Claims Administrator at 877-810-8110 to request a claim form.

“While we are pushing the Judge and the lawyers for the farmers and the government in this case for a short extension, the odds are against them granting our request,” said Ralph Paige, Executive Director of the Federation of Southern Cooperatives. “Persons who have questions or concerns about how to respond to the claim form should contact the Federation at 1-800-503-5678 for advice and assistance. Please do not miss the May 11 deadline which is coming very soon,” said Paige.

The seven member groups of the Network of Farm Groups and Advocates are: Arkansas Land and Farm Development Corporation, Federation of Southern Cooperatives/Land Assistance Fund, NC Land Loss Prevention Project, Landowners Association of Texas, Mississippi Family Farmers Association, Oklahoma Black Historical Research Project, Rural Advancement Fund and United Farmers, USA.