Judge Dismisses Lawsuit Over Geronimo's Remains

NEW HAVEN, Conn. — A federal judge has dismissed a lawsuit by descendants of the Apache warrior Geronimo, who claimed some of his remains were stolen in 1918 by a student society at Yale University.

The lawsuit was filed last year in Washington by 20 descendants who want to rebury Geronimo near his New Mexico birthplace.

It claimed Skull and Bones members took some remains from a burial plot at Fort Sill, Okla., where Geronimo died in 1909.

Judge Richard Roberts last month granted a Justice Department motion to dismiss, saying the plaintiffs didn't establish the government had waived its right not to be sued without its consent.

He also dismissed the lawsuit against Yale and the society, saying the plaintiffs cited a law that applies only to Native American cultural items excavated or discovered after 1990.

Skull and Bones is not officially affiliated with Yale.

Comments

[berserk]

12:49 PM on 08/12/2010

How rude.

[Ryan57ford]

12:55 AM on 08/12/2010

I guess the fact that a cult group of kids in college stole human remains is no big deal huh... Since its a native american head its no big deal, but if it was George bushes great grandfather fox news would be running this story for a month.

[Naithom]

02:54 PM on 08/10/2010

How about simple return of stolen property? The relatives can provide DNA as documentation that the property is their ancestor and the Skull and Bones has no documentation proving they have the right to have this man's body.

[freedomsxm]

12:26 PM on 08/10/2010

"Skull and Bones is not officially affiliated with Yale, yeah and George Bush didn't go to school there either"........

[freedomsxm]

12:24 PM on 08/10/2010

"Skull and Bones is not officially affiliated with Yale.WTF......

[HHUA]

11:55 AM on 08/10/2010

"Judge Richard Roberts last month granted a Justice Department motion to dismiss, saying the plaintiffs failed to establish that the government had waived its right not to be sued without its consent."

I see... So the gov't has to give its "consent" to be sued?! And I guess that applies to Yale as well? Why am I NOT surprised.

[ykk9]

01:53 PM on 08/12/2010

Yeah, how convenient.