In 1997, African-American farmer Timothy Pigford filed a class action lawsuit (Pigford v. Glickman, or ”Pigford”) against the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). This was in large part a response to the USDA’s failing to implement its own recommendations for addressing the persistent racism in the administration of its programs. African-American farmers turned to the courts in hopes of finally addressing this monumental injustice. The settlement was reached on behalf of African-American farmers in 1999, and became known as the ”Black Farmer Settlement”.

The ”Black Farmer Settlement” was the largest in civil rights history. Unfortunately, a vast number of African American farmers did not have their cases heard on the merits, and a majority of African American farmers who filed claims under the ”Black Farmer Settlement” did not get the opportunity to have their claims heard.

The Pigford class action lawsuit set an initial deadline of October 12, 1999 to file a claim. As it turns out, only 21,776 individuals learned about the settlement and submitted a claim by the deadline. On September 15, 2000, the deadline for late claimants passed – this time with far more applications.

A vast number of farmers did not have their cases heard on the merits. Approximately 73,800 petitioners (66,000 before the September 15, 2000 late filing deadline) were filed under the late filing procedure, of which only 2,116 were approved. Thus the vast majority of Pigford filers have unredressed claims of discrimination.

Ninety-seven percent of all late claimants and more than 75 percent of all claimants were denied the new “forty acres and a mule” promised in the Pigford v. Glickman class action lawsuit. But the fight is not over.

If you or a family member is an African-American farmer who tried to participate in the ”Black Farmer Settlement”, but had the claim denied due to its being “late” please contact our offices immediately. Proposed new legislation may give the opportunity to have ”late Pigford” or ”late Black Farmer Settlement” claims heard.