Victory against museum’s mistreatment of cultural items

“Without lawyers like California Indian Legal Services, no one would have helped us.” – C. McCloud

 

CILS and Pro Bono partner Procopio, Cory, Hargreaves & Savitch LLP announced the settlement of a lawsuit brought against the Napa Valley Museum after the Museum damaged and misplaced a number of cultural items loaned to the Museum by Coleen McCloud and Chester McCloud, both California Indians.  The Museum had originally ignored the McCloud’s repeated requests for the return of their items – until the McClouds turned to CILS.  Resolution of the matter included monetary compensation to the McClouds, an apology from the Museum for the mishandling of items, and significant operational changes, including the adoption of a new policy, at the Museum to avoid future mistreatment of loaned articles. The Legal Team worked with Native American Museum experts in the development of industry-standard lending agreements to be used in any future borrowing and display of Native American Cultural items by the Napa Museum.