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County of Oneida
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County of Madison |
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE |
September 26, 2000 |
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RE: Statement from Madison and Oneida Counties |
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Madison County Board of Supervisors Chairman Rocco J. DiVeronica and Oneida County Executive Ralph J. Eannace, Jr. issued a brief statement about Judge Neal McCurn’s ruling in the Oneida Indian Land Claim: The Counties have always said the landowners should not be included in the Oneida Indian Land claim case. We’re extremely pleased that Judge McCurn has agreed with us, and that the landowners are not going to be included as a class of defendants. We’ve said all along that the Oneidas’ request to do so was unjust and wrong. The Judge’s decision to exclude them is good news. He was convinced "…that there are absolutely no circumstances under which ejectment of the private landowners will be a viable remedy in this case." He also stated forcefully that "…monetary damages also will not be recoverable against those landowners;…" We have always felt that it was folly and showed bad faith for the current Oneida Nation leadership to subject landowners to two years of fear and doubt. Judge McCurn agreed. The Counties’ have fought hard for this decision, and it is a victory that is richly deserved. Over the next few days, the Counties’ defense team will analyze the details of Judge McCurn’s 66 page decision, which merits further study. The Judge also decided to add the State of New York as a defendant. The State has been a close and valuable ally to the Counties in recent negotiations. Now that the State is a defendant, that relationship should strengthen. State attorneys and the Governor’s office have been by our side in representing the people, and we pledge our support to them as we go forward. |
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