A federal judge on Thursday approved a $1.25 billion settlement in a lawsuit filed against the Agriculture Department by thousands of black farmers. The group of farmers said that they experienced widespread racial bias from the department when they were denied loans and programs throughout the 1980's and '90s.
CNN provides more details on the U.S. District judge Paul Friedman's historic ruling:
"I'm very pleased that this has resolved itself," U.S. District judge Paul Friedman said Friday. "It will provide relief to an awful lot of people."
In an opinion filed in the case, Friedman deemed fair a proposed settlement that provides a system of compensation for black farmers who joined a class-action lawsuit claiming that they can prove racial bias in decisions related to Agriculture Department programs and support.
"Historical discrimination cannot be undone," Friedman wrote, citing a basis to establish payments "for the broken promise to those African-American farmers and their descendants."
As many as 68,000 African-American farmers who filed between 1999 and 2008 would apply for one of...
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