Mosega i Mea Oona ma le Tali Atu i Manu’aga tau Alamanuia i Amerika Samoa: Le Taiala a le Loia 911 mo le Amiotonu

Mo augatupulaga, o tagata o Amerika Samoa sa atia’e o latou olaga ma a latou measina i le uafu o Pago Pago, faleapa tuna, ma se aganuu o le tautua iloga i le vaega au a le Iunaite Setete. Sa outou galulue i uafu, tausia laina tetele o gaosiga i le faleapa o le StarKist, ma fausia atina’e o Leone, Tualauta, ma Utulei i o outou lava lima. Ae a o outou taula’i atu i le tausia o o outou aiga ma le tautuaina o lo outou nuu, o kamupani sa saunia mea e faaaoga ma lala sooupu a le malo sa pulea o outou nofoaga autu sa masani ona lē gagana e uiga i se mea moni e oti ai. O le pefu i luga o o outou ofu galue i le lotoā o vaa, o asu oona i potu afi o vaa fealuai i le va o motu, ma le vai sa outou inuina a o galulue, sa masani ona tumu i mea fasioti tagata faalilolilo pei o le asipesto (asbestos), benizini (benzene), ma le PFAS. O lenei, i le tele o tausaga mulimuli ane, ua oo mai le taimi e totogi ai le pili i tulaga o le mesothelioma, leukemia, ma faama’i o le māmā e lē mafai ona faamaloloina. O i matou o le Attorney 911 (Loia 911), ma matou te talitonu e lē tatau i se tagata faigaluega i Amerika Samoa ona totogi le faatamala o kamupani i lona lava ola.

Afai o oe po o se tasi e pele ia te oe ua maua i se faama’i e suia ai le olaga ina ua mavae ni tausaga o galue mamafa i alamanuia o loo faamatala ai Amerika Samoa, e te lē o feagai ma se “laki leaga” po o ni aafiaga masani o le matua. O oe o se tasi na aafia i le mosega i mea oona. O le Loia o Ralph Manginello ma la matou au atoa o loia ua silia ma le 27 tausaga o faamasinoina kamupani piliona tala mo nei lava faiga faalata. Matou te malamalama i luitau tulaga ese o loo feagai ma aiga i Amerika Samoa, mai le mamao o le sailia o togafitiga faafoma’i faapitoa i nofoaga e pei o le LBJ Tropical Medical Center i le lavelave o le failaina o talosaga faasaga i kamupani o loo i ai i le faitau afe o maila le mamao. E i ai au aia tatau e sili atu nai lo mea o le a ta’u atu e se matagaluega o tagata faigaluega (HR) a se fale faigaluega po o se sui o inisiua ia te oe.

Valaau le 1-888-ATTY-911 mo se faatalatalanoaga e leai se totogi ma e le faalauaiteleina. O la matou ofisa o loo faagaoioia i luga o se faiga e totogi pe a manumalo le mataupu (contingency fee), o lona uiga e te lē totogiina se tupe i le amataga ma e na’o le taimi lava e matou te manumalo ai i lau mataupu e totogi ai i matou. O matatupu na pasia e lē faamaonia ai ni iuga i le lumanai, ae o la matou faamaumauga e aofia ai le avea ma vaega o le faamasinoga tele e $2.1 piliona ina ua mavae le pa o le BP Texas City Refinery—matou te iloa le auala e tau ai ma kamupani silisili ona tetele i le lalolagi ma manumalo ai.

Le Avanoa o le Tagata i Totonu: Aiseā e Mana’omia ai e Tagata Faigaluega o Amerika Samoa la Matou Vaaiga

I le lalolagi o tulafono o mea oona ma manu’aga tau alamanuia, o le iloa o le mea e tasi e mafai ai ona tutusa le tulaga o le tauvaga. O kamupani sa faagaoioia fale po o le sapalaiina o oloa i Amerika Samoa—kamupani pei o Johns-Manville, ExxonMobil, ma le 3M—ua faamalu i le tele o tausaga i le fausiaina o se ‘olo o ofisa loia puipui ma kamupani inisiua ua fuafuaina e teena ai lau talosaga. Latou te faamoemoe i lou lē iloaina o le faasaienisi o lou faama’i po o le talafaasolopito o a latou mea sa nana.

O iina e ese ai i matou. O la matou au e aofia ai Lupe Peña, o se loia tomai tele sa tele ni tausaga o galue i le itu e puipuia kamupani. Sa masani ona iloiloina e Lupe nei talosaga mo kamupani inisiua ma kamupani tetele. Na te iloa le “tusi taiala” o loo latou faaaogaina e taofia ai faamaoniga o le aafia ma le ofoina atu o ni tupe laiti mo le faaleleia o le mataupu. Pe a e faafaigaluegaina le Attorney 911, e te lē o na’o le faafaigaluegaina o se loia; o loo e faafaigaluegaina se tagata i totonu o loo iloa lelei le auala e mafaufau ai le isi itu.

O Ralph Manginello, o lē ua taliaina i le Faamasinoga Faaitumalo a le Iunaite Setete mo le Itumalo i Saute o Texas ma le New York Bar, o loo aumaia le silia ma le lua sefulu tausaga o le poto masani i faamasinoga i lau mataupu. Ua lauiloa Ralph o se “manu fe’ai” i feutagaiga ona o lona saunia o mataupu taitasi mo le faamasinoga mai le aso muamua. I Amerika Samoa, lea e utiuti ai alagāoa faaletulafono i le lotoifale mo faamasinoga lavelave o tagata e toatele, o le i ai o se ofisa o loo i ai le poto masani i faamasinoga feterale ma se tagata sa i ai i totonu o le vaega puipui, o se avanoa malosi lea e te mana’omia.

E pei ona faasoa mai e Chad H. i se iloiloga faamaonia a le Google: “O se PITT BULL moni ma se tagata tau. E le taalo o ia! Ou te le mafaia ona faamatala lo maua faafetai mo Atty. Manginello ma lana au. E le pei o nisi ofisa loia e te feagai ai ma se masini tali telefoni… o Atty. Manginello ma a’u sa i ai sa matou fesootaiga tuusa’o (DIRECT COMMUNICATION).” Matou te aumaia lena lava malosi lē faavaivai i mataupu taitasi o le mosega i mea oona i Amerika Samoa.

Le Taulaga: Mesothelioma ma le Aafia i le Asipesto (Asbestos) i Amerika Samoa

O le asipesto e lē o se faafitauli na’o le atunuu tele. Mo le tele o le seneturi lona 20, o le asipesto o le “minerale ofoofogia” sa faaaogaina i Amerika Samoa atoa i le ‘inisuleiti’ o vaa (ship insulation), o isi mea mo fagu vai vevela i fale eletise, ma mea faufale i nofoaga o le malo. Talu ai o le mesothelioma e i ai se vaitaimi faatali (latency period) e 20 i le 50 tausaga, o tagata faigaluega na fausia Amerika Samoa i tausaga o le 1960, 70, ma le 80 o lenei vaitaimi faato’ā maua ai le faaleagaina.

Le Faasaienisi o le Auala e Fasioti ai e le Asipesto: Phagocytosis le Manuia

Ina ia malamalama i lau talosaga faaletulafono, e tatau ona e malamalama i le mea o loo tupu i totonu o lou tino. O le asipesto o se minerale silicate e nini’i ina ia avea ma ni alava nini’i (microscopic fibers). O nei alava—aemaise lava alava pei ni nila o le amphibole o loo maua i inisuleiti tau alamanuia—e lava lo latou nini’i e mafai ai ona mānava i totonu o le aano o le māmā.

Pe a ulu atu se alava o le asipesto i le pleura (le ufiufi manifinifi o māmā), e tali atu le vaega o lou tino e tetee atu i faama’i (immune system). O sela e ta’ua o le macrophages e iloa le alava o se mea mai fafo e osofa’i ai ma latou taumafai e ‘ai ma faaliusuavai le alava. Peita’i, talu ai o alava o le asipesto e lē mafai ona faaleagaina ma e masani lava ona umi atu nai lo le sela o le macrophage lava ia, e le manuia le faiga. O lenei mea e ta’ua o le “frustrated phagocytosis” (phagocytosis le manuia).

A o oti sela o le macrophages i le taumafai e faaleatama’ia le alava, latou te tatalaina mai ai se faasologa o cytokines (TNF-α, IL-1β) e tupu ai le fula ma reactive oxygen species (ROS). O lenei mea e mafua ai se tulaga tumau o le fula (chronic inflammation) i le ufiufi o le mesothelial. I le gasologa o le tele o tausaga, o lenei aafiaga o le oxidative stress e mafua ai le faaleagaina o le DNA o au sela mesothelial. Mulimuli ane, e le toe galue le faiga e toe faaleleia ai le DNA, o kene e taofia ai tuma e pei o le p16 ma le BAP1 ua le toe galulue, ma liua ai sela e avea ma mesothelioma matuia.

Aiseā ua taua ai lo outou aafia i Amerika Samoa i le taimi lenei

Pe na e galue i le lotoā o vaa i Pago Pago, le Fale Eletise i Satala, po o lou aafia i galuega tetele faufale i le ogatotonu o le seneturi, atonu sa e mānava i le faitau miliona o nei alava i aso taitasi. O kamupani na gaosia na oloa, pei o le Owens Corning ma le Pittsburgh Corning, sa latou iloa lelei talu mai le amataga o tausaga o le 1930 o a latou oloa e mafua ai faama’i e oti ai.

I tusi iloga o le 1935 a Sumner Simpson, o pule o kamupani asipesto sili ona tetele sa ioeina faapea “o le itiiti o le tala e fai e uiga i le asipesto, o le sili lea ona manuia o i tatou.” Sa latou filifili e tuu oe i le pogisa mo le fasefulu tausaga a o faapipi’i a latou oloa i totonu o vaa ma puipui o aoga i Amerika Samoa.

Afai ua maua oe i lea tulaga, e mafai ona e agavaa mo se taui mai ni auala se tele:

Asbestos Bankruptcy Trusts: E silia ma le 60 ‘trusts’ o lo o galulue pea ma e tusa ma le $30 piliona le tau o aseta o loo i ai sa faavaeina e kamupani asipesto na gau.
Tagi Faaletulafono mo Manu’aga o Tagata (Personal Injury Lawsuits): E mafai ona e molia kamupani o loo mautu pea sa gaosia oloa patino o loo i ai i lou talafaasolopito o galuega.
VA Disability: O le tele o fitafita tuai o Amerika Samoa sa aafia ao i ai i luga o vaa ma e agavaa mo le 100% disability ratings mo le mesothelioma.

O le Loia o Ralph Manginello o loo faamatalaina le taua o nei mataupu ma le mea e mafai ona maua ai se talosaga e miliona tala i luga o la matou laina o le YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d690a218. I Amerika Samoa, o loo momo’e le taimi ona o vaitaimi faatapulaa faaletulafono (statute of limitations) ma le faaitiitia o pasene o tupe totogi mai nei ‘trusts’.

Valaau le 1-888-ATTY-911 i le aso. Matou te galulue faatasi ma foma’i faapitoa ma ‘B-readers’ o ē e mafai ona iloa faailoga patino o faama’i o le asipesto e ono lē iloa e foma’i masani i le lotoifale.

Itu 1: Mea Oona — O Tagata Fasioti Faalilolilo i le Pasefika i Saute

E ui o le asipesto o le mea oona lea e sili ona lauiloa, o le tulaga o alamanuia i Amerika Samoa ua faaalia ai tagata faigaluega i se “toxic cocktail” o isi mea oona.

Benizini (Benzene) ma le Aafia i Vailaau tau Alamanuia

O le benizini o se vaega taua o oloa tau suauu o loo faaaogaina i uafu tuu suauu ma masini tetele o le faleapa tuna. Afai na e galue o se tagata faamamā tane suauu, se inisinia, po o se tagata e faagaoioia masini i tafatafa o le uafu, e foliga mai na e aafia i asu o le benizini.

O le benizini ua iloa o se mea e mafua ai le kanesa i tagata lea e osofa’ia ai le mea o loo i totonu o ponaivi (bone marrow). Pe a mānava i totonu, o le benizini e faaliusuavaiina i le ate e le enzyme CYP2E1 e avea ma benizini oxide ona sosoo ai lea ma le muconaldehyde. O nei mea faaliusuavai e fealuai i le toto agai i lou bone marrow, lea e osofa’ia tuusa’o ai sela e maua mai ai le toto (hematopoietic stem cells). O lenei faaleagaina e masani ona vaaia o le Myelodysplastic Syndrome (MDS) po o le Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML).

Afai na e faaaluina ni tausaga i se fale faigaluega i Amerika Samoa ma o lenei ua e mafatia i le vaivai e lē masani ai, faigofie ona totoulia le pa’u, po o le so’ona tupu soo o faama’i, atonu o loo e mafatia i le lē manuia o le bone marrow ona o le benizini. O le tapulaa faatagaina a le OSHA (PEL) e na’o le 1 ppm, ae ua tatou iloa nei—ma sa iloa foi e kamupani i lena taimi—e leai se tulaga e saogalemu moni ai le benizini.

O la matou loia sa i ai muamua i le vaega puipui, o Lupe Peña, o loo malamalama i le auala na tau ai kamupani pei o le ExxonMobil ma le Shell (https://www.osha.gov/benzene) i nei talosaga i le tuua’ia o le “olaga” o le tagata po o isi tulaga o le siosiomaga. Matou te lē faatagaina i latou e faia lena mea. Matou te faaaogaina le toe fausiaina o le tumamā tau alamanuia (industrial hygiene reconstruction) e faamaonia ai o lau fale faigaluega le mafuaaga o lau leukemia.

PFAS: Le Faafitauli o le “Vailaau e Faavavau”

O le PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances) o ni vailaau na faia e tagata o loo faaaogaina i foam e tineia ai le afi (AFFF) i le Malae Vaalele Faavaomalo i Pago Pago ma nofoaga eseese o le vaega au. O nei “vailaau e faavavau” e lē faaleagaina i le siosiomaga. I Amerika Samoa, lea e taua tele ai alaga’oa o vai i lalo o le eleele, o le faaleagaina i le PFAS o se popolega o loo vave ona tupu mo tagata o lo o nonofo e latalata i nofoaga sa faia ai aoaoga.

O le PFAS e faaputuputu i totonu o le tino o le tagata, e pipii i polotini i le toto ma nofo ai iina mo le tele o tausaga. O vailaau nei e faalavelave i le faiga o hormones, faalavelave i le galue o le ate, ma ua sootaga atu e le C8 Science Panel i le kanesa o fatuga’o, kanesa o totoga reproduktive o tamaloloa, ma le ulcerative colitis.

Afai na e nofo latalata i se nofoaga sa faataitai ai i le PFAS po o lou galue o se tagata tinei afi i Amerika Samoa, o lou maua i le kanesa atonu o se iuga tuusa’o o le aafia i le PFAS. O le EPA talu ai nei na faatulaga ai se tulaga faigata tele (Maximum Contaminant Level – MCL) e na’o le 4 vaega i le tiliona (parts per trillion) mo le PFOA ma le PFOS—o le faailoaina lea e tusa lava pe matua itiiti lava, e mata’utia. https://www.epa.gov/pfas

Itu 2: Alamanuia Mata’utia — Puipuia o le Aufaigaluega Sāmoa

O le tamaoaiga o Amerika Samoa o loo fausia i luga o galuega e maualuga le tulaga lamatia. Mai le galue mata’utia i luga o le sami i le mamafa o le galue i laina o faleapa, o tagata faigaluega Sāmoa e tatau ona maua le puipuiga atoatoa o le tulafono.

Manu’aga i luga o le sami ma le Tulafono o le Jones Act i Pago Pago

O Pago Pago o se tasi o uafu sili ona taua i le Pasefika. Afai e te galue i luga o se vaa—pe o se vaa fagota tuna, se tosovaa (tugboat), po o se vaalelea mo tagata—e masani lava o oe o se “seaman” i lalo o le Jones Act (46 USC § 30104).

O le Jones Act o se tulafono malosi feterale e maua ai lau aia tatau e molia ai lou kamupani mo le faatamala pe a e manu’aga a o e galue. E lē pei o le taui mo tagata faigaluega (workers’ compensation) i le atunuu tele, lea o se faiga e lē vaai i se e sese ma e i ai tapulaa o penefiti, o se talosaga i lalo o le Jones Act e faatagaina ai oe e saili ni taui atoa i luma o se auivae (jury). E aofia ai le taui mo le tiga ma le mafatia, le lē mafai ona toe maua se totogi i le lumanai, ma le mamafa o le faamaoniga e faigofie lava—o lona uiga afai o le faatamala o le falefaigaluega sa i ai se vaega itiiti lava i lou manu’aga, o lona uiga latou te tali atu ai.

Matou te fai foi ma sui o tagata faigaluega i le uafu i lalo o le Longshore and Harbor Workers’ Compensation Act (LHWCA). Afai na e manu’aga i luga o se uafu po o le taimi o loo faatumuina ai se vaa i Pago Pago, atonu e i ai sau talosaga i lalo o le “Section 905(b)” faasaga i le tagata e ana le vaa lea e maua ai se taui e sili atu nai lo le masani.

Le Faleapa Tuna: Saogalemu i Galuega ma Tulaga Lamatia o le Amonia

O faleapa tuna o le fatu lea o le tamaoaiga o Amerika Samoa, ae o nofoaga tetele foi o loo i ai tulaga lamatia. O le faiga o le faamalulu i se tulaga tele e faalagolago i le anhydrous ammonia—o se kasa e matua oona lava. O se liki e tasi po o se lē manuia o mea faigaluega e mafai ona mafua ai le faaleagaina o le mānava po o le tauaso tumau.

I nei nofoaga, o le Process Safety Management (PSM) e lē na’o se taiala; o se tulafono feterale i lalo o le 29 CFR 1910.119. Pe a le toe tausia lelei e kamupani pei o le StarKist po o kamupani sa iai muamua ia alatoto (valves), aveese asu ma le sa’o, po o le saunia o meafaigaluega mo le puipuiga o le tagata (PPE), o lona uiga o loo latou solia le tulafono feterale. O le poto masani o Ralph Manginello i le faamasinoga o le BP Texas City Refinery e aoga tele iinei. Na te iloa le auala e faitau ai faamaumauga o gaosiga ma faamaumauga o le tausia o mea (maintenance records) e maua ai le vaega tonu na filifili ai se kamupani e faaitiitia le tupe ae lē puipuia tagata faigaluega.

Le Alalaupapa: Talosaga tuufaatasi mo le Mauaina o se Taui Sili

O le mea sese e masani ona fai e tagata faigaluega manu’aga i Amerika Samoa o le talitonu lea e na’o le tasi le ituaiga o talosaga e mafai ona latou faia. Talu ai lo matou tomai i itu uma e lua, matou te maua soo o matou tagata e i ai ni talosaga “stack” po o talosaga e tele.

Le Alalaupapa i le Lotoā o Vaa: O se tagata faigaluega na manu’aga i le lotoā o vaa i Pago Pago atonu e i ai sana talosaga i lalo o le LHWCA mo lona manu’aga vave, o se talosaga faasaga i se isi vaega (third-party) i le kamupani na gaosia meafaigaluega na sese, MA se talosaga mo le mesothelioma ona o le mānava i le asipesto mai vaa o loo latou faaleleia.

Le Alalaupapa o Fitafita Tuai: O Amerika Samoa o loo i ai nisi o fuainumera maualuga o le ulufale i le vaega au. Afai o oe o se fitafita tuai o loo nofo i Leone po o Taga ma ua maua oe i le kanesa, e ono agavaa oe mo penefiti a le VA PACT Act ona o le aafia i fale susunu otaota (burn pits) i fafo atu o le atunuu MA se talosaga faaletulafono masani (civil claim) mo le aafia i le asipesto i lau galuega ina ua mavae le tautua i le vaega au i Amerika Samoa.

Matou te fesoasoani i le faigofie ona maua o nei auala uma ina ia mautinoa e leai se tupe e lē maua e te agavaa ai. E pei ona matauina e Stephanie H. i lana iloiloga i le Google: “Ina ua ou lagonaina le leai o se faamoemoe po o se itu e aga’i i ai… sa aapa mai Leonor ia te a’u… O ia ma lana au sa matua ofoofogia!!!… Latou te le’i faia a’u o se numera ae sa latou faatauaina a’u i le faagasologa atoa.” Matou te taulimaina o matou tagata mai Sāmoa e pei o se aiga, ae le o se fuainumera o se mataupu.

Tulafono ma Tulafono Faatonutonu: Au Aia Tatau i le Atunuu o le Iunaite Setete

O le tele o tagata faigaluega i Amerika Samoa e lē mautinoa pe tutusa tulafono o loo puipuia ai tagata faigaluega i Texas po o Niu Ioka ma tulafono o loo iai mo i latou. Talu ai o Amerika Samoa o se Atunuu (Territory) o le Iunaite Setete, o tulaga saogalemu feterale mai le OSHA, le EPA, ma le Matagaluega o Leipa o tulafono ia o loo pulea.

Le Tulafono o le Sailiga (The Discovery Rule): E LE’I tuai Tele

O se tasi o ‘alofaga masani o loo faaaogaina e kamupani tetele o le faapea mai o le aafia na tupu i se taimi ua leva tele. I lalo o le “Discovery Rule,” o le vaitaimi faatapulaa faaletulafono i mataupu o mea oona e lē amata i le taimi na mose ai oe; e amata i le taimi na maua ai oe i le faama’i po o le taimi e tatau ai ona e iloa o lou ma’i na mafua ona o le aafia i na mea oona.

Afai sa e galue i paipa i le vaitausaga o le 1970 ma na maua oe i le mesothelioma i le 2024, o lau faamalama faaletulafono faatoa amata. Peita’i, o lenei faamalama e tapuni vave—e masani lava i totonu o le lua tausaga talu ona maua i le faama’i. O le mea lea e mana’omia ai se gaioiga vave. O le Loia o Ralph Manginello o loo talanoaina le tulaga taua o le vaitaimi faatapulaa faaletulafono i lenei vaega o le podcast: https://share.transistor.fm/s/bddc1426.

Tali Atu o Galuega o loo Sosoo mai (Corporate Successor Liability)

Afai o le kamupani sa e galue ai ua faatauina, pe toe suia le igoa, o loo i ai lava lo latou tiute. I lalo o le tulafono o le successor liability, o le kamupani fou e masani ona latou tauaveina aitalafu faaletulafono ma tiute o le kamupani tuai. Matou te faia su’esu’ega loloto i kamupani ina ia maua ai le mea o loo i ai le tupe mo lau talosaga.

Faamaoniga o le Aafia: Toe Fausiaina o lou Talafaasolopito i Amerika Samoa

E faapefea ona e faamaonia sa e mānava i le asipesto i le 30 tausaga talu ai? Matou te lē faamoemoe o loo e taofia lau pepa taimi (timecards) mai le 1985. Matou te faaaogaina se faiga masani e aoina ai faamaoniga:

Molimau a Uso Faigaluega: Matou te sueina alii ma tamaitai na outou galulue faatasi. O a latou molimau e uiga i “tulaga pefua” po o le “manogi vailaau” o se faamaoniga malosi lea.
Iloaina o Oloa: E i ai la matou database o ituaiga o inisuleiti, gaskets, ma vailaau (solvents) sa faaaogaina i lotoā o vaa i le Pasefika ma fale faamamā suauu.
Faamaumauga a le OSHA ma le EPA: Matou te faaaogaina le FOIA (Freedom of Information Act) e saili ai faamaumauga o asiasiga i le faleapa o le StarKist, uafu, ma fale eletise ina ia maua ni soligatulafono o le saogalemu ua faamauina.
Toe Fausiaina o le Tumamā i Galuega: Matou te faafaigaluegaina tagata poto faapitoa e molimau e uiga i le tele o alava po o le ppm o le benizini sa ono i ai i le ea e fua i lau galuega patino na fai.

O kamupani tetele latou te faamoemoe o le a mou atu nei faamaoniga. Tatou te gaoioi e taofia ina ia aua ne’i mou atu. E pei ona tusia e Christopher W.: “O Ralph & le ofisa loia o Manginello sa tele mea na latou faia (i lalo ifo o le 8 vaiaso!) i la’u mataupu tau i se faalavelave tau taavale nai lo le loia muamua sa i ai le mataupu mo le silia ma le TAUSAGA.” Matou te aumaia lena lava vave ma le lelei i le toe fausiaina o lou talafaasolopito o le aafia.

Taui: O le ā le uiga o se Faaleleiga o se Mataupu (Settlement) mo lou Aiga

O le maua i le mesothelioma po o le leukemia e lē na’o se faafitauli i le soifua maloloina; o se mala tau tupe lea. O le tau o togafitiga faafoma’i, tuufaatasi ma le leiloa o le tagata o loo tausia le aiga, e mafai ona faaleagaina ai le lumanai o se aiga.

O le ā e Mafai Ona e Maua?

I se tagi faaletulafono mo le aafia i mea oona po o manu’aga tau alamanuia, tatou te sailia se taui “atoatoa ma le sa’o”:

Tupe Faafoma’i: Tupe na alu i aso ua mavae ma tupe o le a alu i le lumanai mo chemotherapy, taotoga, ma isi togafitiga.
Totogi na le Maua ma le Lē mafai ona Toe Galue: O le tupe e mautinoa sa e mauaina mo le vaega o totoe o lau galuega.
Tiga ma le Mafatia: Taui mo le tiga faaletino ma le fefe i le mafaufau ona o se faama’i e oti ai.
Leiloa o le Mafutaga (Loss of Consortium): Le aafiaga i lau mafutaga ma lou toalua ma lau fanau.
Taui o Faasalaga (Punitive Damages): I mataupu o loo faamauina ai le nanaina o mea (pei o tusi a Sumner Simpson), e mafai e le auivae (jury) ona tuuina atu le faitau miliona o tupe faaopoopo na’o le faasalaina o le kamupani.

E ui e lē mafai ona matou folafola atu se numera patino, o tupe mo le mesothelioma e masani lava ona amata mai i le $1 miliona i le $2 miliona, ma o iuga o faamasinoga e mafai ona sili mamao atu. O mataupu o le benizini ma nofoaafi (FELA) e maua ai foi ni taui tetele ona o le matuia o le afaina. O le loia o Ralph Manginello o loo faasino mai vaega e iloa ai se mataupu e maua ai le miliona tala iinei: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dmMwE7GqUFI.

Aiseā e Filifili ai le Attorney 911?

E tele au filifiliga e mafai ona fai mo se sui faaletulafono. Ae o tagata faigaluega i Amerika Samoa e mana’omia se ofisa e malamalama i le aganuu i le lotoifale faapea foi ma fili o kamupani tetele i le lalolagi.

27+ Tausaga o le Tomai i Faamasinoga: O Ralph Manginello e lē o se loia e “na’o le sailia o se tupe e le’i faamasinoga”. O ia o se loia e fefefe ai kamupani tetele.
Le Avanoa o le Tagata i Totonu o le Puipuiga: Ua iloa e Lupe Peña mea lilo a kamupani inisiua.
Tomai i Faamasinoga Feterale: Matou te taulimaina mataupu i totonu o le faiga feterale, o iina lea e faamae’a ai toetoe o mataupu uma o mea oona ma tulafono i le sami.
Auaunaga i gagana eseese: Hablamos Español. O la matou loia lagolago, Mr. Peña, e matua lelei i le gagana ma na te mautinoa o tagata uma i lou aiga e malamalama i le faagasologa.
E leai se totogi ia te oe: Matou te totogiina muamua tau uma o le mataupu—o le faitau afe o tala mo tagata poto faapitoa ma pili o le failaina o pepa—o lona uiga e leai se afaina ia te oe.
Fesootaiga Patino: E pei ona faasoa mai e S M. i luga o le Google: “O le Loia o Manginello e matua tele lona poto ae agai sa’o lava i le mea taua… o Leo ma le Loia o Ralph Manginello e matua manaia tele! E faigata ona e maua ni tagata lotomaualalo e matua alolofa moni mai.”

O lo matou ofisa autu o loo i Houston, Texas, o se nofoaga autu i le lalolagi mo faamasinoga o mea oona, ae o lo matou aapa atu ma la matou tautinoga mo le amiotonu e oo atu i Pago Pago ma nuu taitasi uma i Amerika Samoa.

Alagāoa mo le Aoaoina o Aiga i Amerika Samoa

O le tau faasaga i se faama’i oona e mana’omia ai le lagolago a se nuu atoa. Matou te fautuaina nei alagāoa mo se fesoasoani vave:

Tausiga Faafoma’i: Afai e i ai ni ou faailoga, asiasi i le LBJ Tropical Medical Center i Faga’alu. Fai i ai se pepa e vaai ai se foma’i faapitoa mo le māmā po o le oncologist. https://www.lbjmonline.com
Faamatalaga mo le Mesothelioma: O le National Cancer Institute (NCI) o loo saunia faamatalaga sili mo togafitiga. https://www.cancer.gov/types/mesothelioma
Faafanua o le PFAS: Vaai pe sa su’esu’eina lou vaega o loo e nofo ai i le faaaogaina o le Environmental Working Group’s map. https://www.ewg.org/interactive-maps/pfas_contamination/
Su’esu’ega mo Fitafita Tuai: E tatau i fitafita tuai Sāmoa uma ona fesootai ma le VA Pacific Islands Health Care System mo se su’esu’ega e leai se totogi o le PACT Act mo le aafia i mea oona. https://www.va.gov/pacific-islands-health-care/
Saogalemu mo Tagata Faigaluega: Lipoti tulaga e lē saogalemu i le taimi nei i le OSHA Region IX, lea o loo pulea Amerika Samoa. https://www.osha.gov/contactus/bystate/AS/areaoffice

Fesili e Masani ona Fesili ai Tagata Faigaluega o Amerika Samoa

1. Na ou galue i le faleapa i Pago Pago i le 30 tausaga talu ai. E mafai lava ona ou failaina se talosaga?

Ioe. Ona o le “Discovery Rule,” o le vaitaimi faatapulaa faaletulafono e masani lava ona lē amata se’ia vagana ua maua oe i le faama’i po o lou iloa o lou ma’i e fesootai ma lau galuega. Mo le tele o faama’i o le asipesto ma le benizini, o lona uiga o tagata e lei toe la’a i totonu o se falefaigaluega talu mai le 1990 e mafai lava ona faila se talosaga i le asō.

2. Ae faapefea pe afai o le kamupani na mafua ai lou aafia ua gau (bankruptcy)?

O le mea moni, o loo e i ai i se tulaga lelei. O le tele o kamupani asipesto tetele sa faamalosia e faatuina ni “Bankruptcy Trusts” e totogi ai tagata pei o oe. E mafai ona matou faila i le tele o nei trusts i le taimi e tasi ina ia mautinoa e maua le taui sili tusa lava pe o le kamupani lava ia ua “le toe i ai.”

3. Pe faamata o le failaina o se tagi o le a aafia ai la’u VA disability po o le Social Security?

Leai. O taui mo manu’aga o tagata ma totogi mai trust fund e masani lava ona manatu i ai e ese mai i au penefiti feterale. I le tulaga moni, o le mauaina o se faailoga mai le VA mo se aafiaga mai le tautua e mafai ona fesoasoani e faamalosia ai lau mataupu i le itu fivili i le saunia o faamaumauga aloaia o lou ma’i ma lona mafuaaga.

4. O le ā le umi e alu i se mataupu o le aafia i mea oona?

O talosaga mai Trust fund e mafai ona faamae’a i le 6 i le 12 masina. O se tagi fivili atoatoa faasaga i se kamupani o loo mautu pea e ono alu ai le 12 i le 24 masina. Mo tagata ma’i o loo i se tulaga matuia, e masani ona matou failaina ni talosaga mo se “trial preference,” i le talosagaina o le faamasinoga ina ia faavave le mataupu ona o le tulaga o le soifua maloloina o le tagata ma’i.

5. Sa ou ulaula. E mafai lava ona ou faila se talosaga mo se faama’i e fesootai ma le asipesto?

E mautinoa lava. O le ulaula e LE mafua ai le mesothelioma. Afai o loo iai sau kanesa o le māmā, o le ulaula ma le asipesto e i ai sona aafiaga “synergistic”—o lona uiga o le asipesto e atili ai ona leaga le faaleagaina mai le ulaula. Ua iloa e le tulafono lenei mea, ma e masani ona matou manumalo i ni taui tetele mo tagata sa ulaula muamua.

6. Pe tatau ona ou malaga i le atunuu tele mo la’u mataupu?

I le tele o tulaga, e leai. Matou te faaaogaina le Zoom ma fonotaga i luga o le upega tafailagi mo molimau ma fonotaga. E mafai ona matou faagaoioia le failaina, le su’esu’ega, ma feutagaiga mai o matou ofisa, ae e te nofo lava i lou aiga i Amerika Samoa ma lou aiga.

7. O le ā le aafiaga “ave i le aiga” (take-home exposure)?

O le taimi lea e aumai ai e se tagata faigaluega alava po o vailaau i le fale i ona ofu, ma mama’i ai tagata o lona aiga. O le tele o ava a tagata faigaluega i Amerika Samoa na maua i le mesothelioma ona o le taguina o ofu galue pefua a a latou tane. E mafai ona i ai sau talosaga tusa lava pe e te lei galue lava i lena alamanuia.

8. Pe o le Attorney 911 o se ofisa e na’o le ‘ave ese’ (referral) o mataupu?

Leai. E lē pei o le tele o ofisa “numera 800” e na’o le faatauina o au faamatalaga i se isi loia, o i matou o se ofisa o lo o faia faamasinoga. Pe a e valaau le 1-888-ATTY-911, o loo e talanoa i le ofisa o le a taulimaina lau faila, fausia faamaoniga, ma tau ma vaega puipui a kamupani tetele.

9. Ae faapefea pe afai ou te lē manatua le igoa o oloa sa ou faaaogaina?

O la matou galuega lena. E i ai a matou lisi o nofoaga ma lisi o oloa mo toetoe lava o nofoaga tetele uma tau galuega i le Pasefika i Saute. Pe a uma ona e ta’u mai le mea na e galue ai ma po o le ā lau galuega sa fai (faataitaiga, “tausia o masini i le Fale Eletise i Satala”), e mafai ona matou iloa ituaiga patino o asipesto, vailaau, ma masini sa e ono aafia ai.

10. Pe o le uiga o le “contingency fee” o le a ou totogiina tagata poto faapitoa?

Leai. Matou te totogiina muamua tau uma o le faamasinoga. E aofia ai le totogiina o le faitau afe o tala mo le molimau a le oncologist ma lipoti a le industrial hygienist. Afai matou te le manumalo i lau mataupu, e te le aitalafu ia i matou mo se tupe mo lo matou taimi PO O tupe na matou faaaluina. O se mea moni lava e leai se tulaga lamatia mo lou aiga.

11. E mafai ona ou molia mo se tagata o le aiga ua maliu?

Ioe. E mafai ona e failaina se tagi mo le “Maliu e lē Sa’o” (Wrongful Death) ma se “Survival Action.” O nei mea e mafai ai e le aiga ona maua se taui mo tupe o le falelauasiga, le leiloa o tupe maua, ma le tiga ma le mafatia sa oo i ai le tagata o le aiga a o lei maliu.

12. Pe o nei talosaga e pei o se “class action” lea e na’o sina siaki laitiiti ou te maua?

Leai. O nei mataupu o ni tagi taitasi. O lau taui e faalagolago i LOU ma’i, AU pili faafoma’i, ma LOU talafaasolopito o galuega. E lē o oe o se tasi o le afe o tagata e leai ni igoa; o oe o se tagata o loo failaina se tagi ma lau lava tala patino.

13. O le ā le “Maintenance and Cure” i lalo o le Jones Act?

Afai e te manu’aga o se tagata faigaluega i luga o le sami, o lau falefaigaluega e i ai se aitalafu ia te oe mo le Maintenance (se tupe mo lou soifua i aso taitasi) ma le Cure (togafitiga faafoma’i atoatoa) i le taimi lava lena, e tusa lava po o ai na sese. Afai latou te teena le totogiina o lenei penefiti, e mafai ona latou agavaa mo se faasalaga.

14. Ae faapefea pe afai na ou sainiina se pepa e faamatu’u ai (release/waiver) i le taimi na amata ai la’u galuega?

I faalavelave o le aafia i mea oona e umi se taimi ona iloa, o le tele o ia “faamatu’u” e leai se aoga. E lē mafai ona e sainia ese au aia tatau mo se kanesa e te lē iloa e te maua ai se’ia mavae le isi 30 tausaga. O le tulafono feterale ma lagona masani e puipuia oe i lenei tulaga.

15. Pe i ai se aofaiga o le asipesto e saogalemu?

Leai. O faalapotopotoga tetele uma o le soifua maloloina, e aofia ai le IARC ma le WHO, e ioe uma e leai se tulaga e saogalemu ai le aafia i le asipesto. E oo lava i se aso e tasi o le aafia malosi e mafai ona lava lea e amata ai le mesothelioma.

16. O le ā le “frustrated phagocytosis”?

O le faagasologa lea i totonu o lou tino lea e taumafai ai sela o lou tino e tetee atu i se alava asipesto ae lē mafai. O lenei mea e mafua ai le fula tumau lea e tupu ai le kanesa. O le faamatalaina o lenei faasaienisi i se auivae (jury) o le auala lea matou te faamaonia ai o le faatamala o lau falefaigaluega na mafua ai lou ma’i.

17. Aiseā e taua tele ai le talaaga o Lupe Peña?

Ona o Lupe sa avea muamua ma loia i le isi itu. Na te iloa le mea o loo nana ai e kamupani a latou tupe, pe faapefea ona latou faamauina (ma le lē faamauina) le aafia, ma numera tonu o tupe o loo faatagaina latou e totogi. Na te faaaogaina a latou lava manatu faasaga ia i latou.

18. Ae faapefea pe afai na ou manu’aga i le Uafu o Pago Pago?

Atonu o loo e aofia i lalo o le Longshore and Harbor Workers’ Compensation Act (LHWCA). O lenei faiga feterale e saunia ai penefiti pe a e manu’aga i luga o vai e mafai ona faimalaga ai vaa po o “vaega e latalata ane” pei o uafu. E masani lava ona sili atu lona lelei nai lo le taui o tagata faigaluega i le atunuu.

19. E fia ni trust funds o i ai?

O lenei taimi e sili atu i le 60 ‘trusts’ o loo galulue pea. O le tele o a matou tagata o loo agavaa mo ni talosaga ma le 10 i le 15 o ia trust e fua i le tele o oloa sa faaaogaina i se faleapa e tasi po o se fale eletise. O le tupe i nei trust—e silia ma le $30 piliona—ua faapolopolo faapitoa mo tagata pei o oe.

20. Hablamos Español?

Sí. O le Loia o Lupe Peña e matua poto tele i le faa-Sepania. Matou te malamalama mo le tele o aiga i galuega faufale ma galuega tetele, o le gagana e mafai ona avea ma papupuni. I le Attorney 911, e leai ni papupuni mo le amiotonu.

Le La’asaga Muamua Agai i le Amiotonu

O kamupani tetele o loo maua tupe mai galuega mamafa a Amerika Samoa ua faaaluina le faitau miliona o tala i loia e fai atu ia te oe e leai sau mataupu. Latou te manana’o ia e talitonu o lou ma’i o lou lava sese po o se vaega o le olaga. Matou te i ai iinei e ta’u atu ia te oe o loo latou sese.

Sa e galue mamafa. Sa e tautuaina lou nuu. Na e faia lau vaega. O lenei, ua oo i le taimi e tatau ai ona latou faia la latou vaega. Pe o e i Pago Pago, Leone, Tualauta, po o so o se isi nuu i motu, ua sauni le Attorney 911 e tu mo oe. Matou te tuufaatasia le malamalama i le faasaienisi o le auala e faaleagaina ai e le benizini ma le asipesto sela o le tagata ma le poto masani o se tagata sa galue muamua i le vaega puipui e fausia ai ni mataupu e lē mafai e kamupani tetele ona lē amana’ia.

E pei ona faasoa mai e Jamin M. i lana iloiloga faamaonia: “O Mr. Manginello na ta’ita’ia a’u i le faagasologa atoa ma le tomai sili… Sa lē fiu o ia, e faigofie ona maua, ma sa naunau i le gasologa o le 19 masina o la’u mataupu… Ou te faafetai pea ia te ia mo mea uma na ia faia mo a’u ma lo’u aiga.”

Aua ne’i faatagaina faamaoniga e mou atu. Aua ne’i faatagaina tupe o le trust fund e uma i le taimi o loo e faatali ai. O le valaau e leai se totogi, o le faatalatalanoaga e lē faalauaiteleina, ma o le taimi lenei.

Valaau le Loia 911 i le 1-888-ATTY-911 po o le (888) 288-9911. O kamupani na latou faapoia oe o loo i ai la latou au loia. O lenei, ua i ai foi sau oe.

Attorney 911 / The Manginello Law Firm, PLLC. Ofisa Autu: 1177 W. Loop South, Suite 1600, Houston, TX 77027. O iuga o aso ua mavae e le faamaonia ai ni iuga i le lumanai. E leai se totogi se’ia vagana ua tatou manumalo. O nei faamatalaga o mo le a’oa’oina ma e lē o se fautuaga faaletulafono. O mataupu taitasi e tulaga ese. Faafesootai i matou mo se faatalatalanoaga saoloto e uiga i lou tulaga patino.

ENGLISH

American Samoa Toxic Exposure and Industrial Injury Accountability: The Attorney 911 Guide to Justice

For generations, the people of American Samoa have built their lives and their legacy around Pago Pago Harbor, the tuna canneries, and a tradition of distinguished service in the United States military. You worked the docks, you maintained the massive process lines at the StarKist cannery, and you built the infrastructure of Leone, Tualauta, and Utulei with your bare hands. But while you were focused on providing for your family and serving your community, the corporations that provided the materials and the government agencies that managed your bases were often silent about a deadly truth. The dust on your coveralls at the shipyard, the fumes in the engine rooms of the inter-island vessels, and the water you drank while on duty were often saturated with silent killers like asbestos, benzene, and PFAS. Now, decades later, the bill is coming due in the form of mesothelioma, leukemia, and terminal lung disease. We are Attorney 911, and we believe that no worker in American Samoa should have to pay for corporate negligence with their life.

If you or a loved one has been diagnosed with a life-altering illness after years of hard work in the industries that define American Samoa, you are not dealing with “bad luck” or the natural effects of aging. You are a victim of toxic exposure. Attorney Ralph Manginello and our entire litigation team have spent over 27 years holding billion-dollar corporations accountable for these exact betrayals. We understand the unique challenges facing families in American Samoa, from the distance to specialized medical care at centers like LBJ Tropical Medical Center to the complexities of filing claims against manufacturers located thousands of miles away. You have rights that go far beyond what an employer’s HR department or an insurance adjuster will tell you.

Call 1-888-ATTY-911 for a free, confidential consultation. Our firm operates on a contingency fee basis, which means you pay nothing upfront and we only get paid if we win your case. Past results do not guarantee future outcomes, but our track record includes being part of the massive $2.1 billion litigation following the BP Texas City Refinery explosion—we know how to fight the biggest companies in the world and win.

The Insider Advantage: Why American Samoa Workers Need Our Perspective

In the world of toxic torts and industrial injury law, knowledge is the only thing that levels the playing field. The corporations that operated facilities or supplied products to American Samoa—companies like Johns-Manville, ExxonMobil, and 3M—have spent decades building a fortress of defense law firms and insurance carriers designed to deny your claim. They count on you not knowing the science of your disease or the history of their cover-ups.

That is where we are different. Our team includes Lupe Peña, a veteran attorney who spent years on the defense side. Lupe used to evaluate these claims for the insurance companies and the corporations. He knows the “playbook” they use to suppress evidence of exposure and lowball settlement offers. When you hire Attorney 911, you aren’t just hiring a lawyer; you are hiring an insider who knows exactly how the other side thinks.

Ralph Manginello, admitted to the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Texas and the New York Bar, brings over two decades of trial experience to your case. Ralph has built a reputation as a “beast” in negotiations because he prepares every case for trial from day one. In American Samoa, where local legal resources for complex mass torts can be limited, having a firm with federal court experience and a former defense insider on your side is the nuclear advantage you need.

As Chad H. shared in a verified Google review: “A true PITT BULL and fighter. He don’t play! I cannot express enough on how grateful we truly are for Atty. Manginello and his team. Unlike some law firms where you are dealing with an answering service… Atty. Manginello and I had DIRECT COMMUNICATION.” We bring that same relentless energy to every toxic exposure case in American Samoa.

The Anchor: Mesothelioma and Asbestos Exposure in American Samoa

Asbestos is not just a mainland problem. For much of the 20th century, asbestos was the “miracle mineral” used across American Samoa in ship insulation, boiler lagging at power plants, and building materials in government facilities. Because mesothelioma has a latency period of 20 to 50 years, the workers who built American Samoa in the 1960s, 70s, and 80s are only now discovering the damage.

The Science of How Asbestos Kills: Frustrated Phagocytosis

To understand your legal claim, you must understand what is happening inside your body. Asbestos is a silicate mineral that breaks down into microscopic fibers. These fibers—particularly the needle-like amphibole fibers found in industrial insulation—are small enough to be inhaled deep into the lung tissue.

When an asbestos fiber enters the pleura (the thin lining of the lungs), your body’s immune system responds. Cells called macrophages identify the fiber as a foreign invader and attempt to engulf and digest it. However, because asbestos fibers are indestructible and often longer than the macrophage itself, the process fails. This is known as “frustrated phagocytosis.”

As the macrophages die trying to destroy the fiber, they release a cascade of inflammatory cytokines (TNF-α, IL-1β) and reactive oxygen species (ROS). This creates a permanent state of chronic inflammation in the mesothelial lining. Over decades, this oxidative stress causes repeated damage to the DNA of your mesothelial cells. Eventually, the DNA repair mechanisms fail, tumor suppressor genes like p16 and BAP1 are inactivated, and the cells undergo a malignant transformation into mesothelioma.

Why Your Exposure in American Samoa Matters Now

Whether you worked at the shipyard in Pago Pago, the Satala Power Plant, or were involved in the massive construction projects of the mid-century, you were likely breathing in millions of these fibers every day. The companies that manufactured those products, such as Owens Corning and Pittsburgh Corning, knew as early as the 1930s that their products caused terminal disease.

In the landmark 1935 Sumner Simpson letters, executives from the biggest asbestos companies explicitly agreed that “the less said about asbestos, the better off we are.” They chose to keep you in the dark for forty years while their products lined the hulls of the ships and the walls of the schools in American Samoa.

If you have been diagnosed, you may qualify for compensation from multiple pathways:

Asbestos Bankruptcy Trusts: There are over 60 active trusts with approximately $30 billion in assets established by bankrupt asbestos companies.
Personal Injury Lawsuits: You can sue solvent (non-bankrupt) manufacturers of the specific products identified in your work history.
VA Disability: Many American Samoan veterans were exposed shipboard and qualify for 100% disability ratings for mesothelioma.

Attorney Ralph Manginello explains the high stakes of these cases and what constitutes a million-dollar claim on our YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d690a218. In American Samoa, the clock is running due to the statute of limitations and the declining payment percentages of these trusts.

Call 1-888-ATTY-911 today. We work with the top medical experts and B-readers who can identify the specific markers of asbestos disease that local general practitioners might miss.

Axis 1: Toxic Substances — The Hidden Killers in the South Pacific

While asbestos is the most well-known toxin, the industrial landscape of American Samoa has exposed workers to a “toxic cocktail” of other substances.

Benzene and Industrial Chemical Exposure

Benzene is a fundamental component of the petroleum products used at the fuel docks and in the heavy machinery of the tuna canning industry. If you worked as a tank cleaner, a mechanic, or a process operator near the harbor, you were likely exposed to benzene vapors.

Benzene is a known human carcinogen that targets the bone marrow. When inhaled, benzene is metabolized in the liver by the enzyme CYP2E1 into benzene oxide and then into muconaldehyde. These metabolites travel through the bloodstream to your bone marrow, where they directly attack the hematopoietic stem cells that produce your blood. This damage often manifests as Myelodysplastic Syndrome (MDS) or Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML).

If you spent years at a American Samoa industrial site and now suffer from unusual fatigue, easy bruising, or frequent infections, you may be suffering from benzene-related bone marrow failure. The OSHA permissible exposure limit (PEL) is a mere 1 ppm, but we know now—and the companies knew then—that there is no truly safe level of benzene.

Our former defense insider, Lupe Peña, understands how companies like ExxonMobil and Shell (https://www.osha.gov/benzene) have historically fought these claims by blaming the victim’s “lifestyle” or other environmental factors. We don’t let them get away with it. We use industrial hygiene reconstruction to prove that your workplace was the source of your leukemia.

PFAS: The “Forever Chemical” Crisis

PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances) are synthetic chemicals used in firefighting foams (AFFF) at Pago Pago International Airport and various military installations. These “forever chemicals” do not break down in the environment. In American Samoa, where groundwater resources are vital, PFAS contamination is a growing concern for residents near former training pits.

PFAS bioaccumulates in the human body, binding to proteins in the blood and staying there for years. The chemicals disrupt the endocrine system, interfere with liver function, and have been linked by the C8 Science Panel to kidney cancer, testicular cancer, and ulcerative colitis.

If you lived near a facility that practiced with AFFF firefighting foam or worked as a firefighter in American Samoa, your cancer diagnosis may be a direct result of PFAS exposure. The EPA recently set an extraordinarily strict Maximum Contaminant Level (MCL) of just 4 parts per trillion for PFOA and PFOS—acknowledging that even vanishingly small amounts are dangerous. https://www.epa.gov/pfas

Axis 2: Dangerous Industries — Protecting the Sāmoan Workforce

American Samoa’s economy is built on high-risk labor. From the hazardous work on the open ocean to the pressure of the canning lines, Sāmoan workers deserve the full protection of the law.

Maritime Injuries and the Jones Act in Pago Pago

Pago Pago is one of the most important deep-water ports in the Pacific. If you work on a vessel—whether it’s a tuna seiner, a tug, or an inter-island ferry—you are likely a “seaman” under the Jones Act (46 USC § 30104).

The Jones Act is a powerful federal law that gives you the right to sue your employer for negligence if you are injured on the job. Unlike mainland workers’ compensation, which is a no-fault system with capped benefits, a Jones Act claim allows you to seek full damages before a jury. This includes compensation for pain and suffering, lost future earning capacity, and the “featherweight” burden of proof—meaning if the employer’s negligence played even the smallest part in your injury, they are liable.

We also represent longshoremen and dockworkers under the Longshore and Harbor Workers’ Compensation Act (LHWCA). If you were injured on a pier or while loading a vessel in Pago Pago, you may have a “Section 905(b)” claim against the vessel owner that provides significantly more compensation than standard workers’ comp.

The Tuna Cannery: Industrial Safety and Ammonia Risks

The canneries are the heart of the American Samoa economy, but they are also massive industrial complexes. Large-scale refrigeration depends on anhydrous ammonia—a highly toxic gas. A single leak or equipment failure can cause catastrophic respiratory damage or permanent blindness.

In these facilities, Process Safety Management (PSM) is not just a guideline; it is a federal requirement under 29 CFR 1910.119. When companies like StarKist or former operators fail to maintain valves, purge lines correctly, or provide adequate PPE, they are violating federal law. Ralph Manginello’s experience in the BP Texas City Refinery litigation is directly applicable here. He knows how to read process logs and maintenance records to find the specific point where a company chose to cut costs instead of protecting workers.

The Bridge: Combined Claims for Maximum Recovery

The most common mistake injured workers in American Samoa make is believing they only have one type of claim. Because of our dual-axis expertise, we often find that our clients have “stacked” claims.

The Shipyard Bridge: A worker injured at the Pago Pago shipyard may have a LHWCA claim for their immediate injury, a third-party claim against the equipment manufacturer that failed, AND a mesothelioma claim from breathing the asbestos lagging on the ships they were repairing.

The Military Veteran Bridge: American Samoa has some of the highest military enlistment rates per capita. If you are a veteran living in Leone or Taga and have been diagnosed with cancer, you may qualify for VA PACT Act benefits due to burn pit exposure overseas AND a civil claim for asbestos exposure at your post-service job in American Samoa.

We navigate these overlapping pathways to ensure you don’t leave a single dollar on the table. As Stephanie H. noted in her Google review: “When I felt I had no hope or direction… Leonor reached out to me… She and her team were beyond amazing!!!… They made me feel like I mattered throughout the entire process.” We treat our Sāmoan clients like families, not case numbers.

Law and Regulation: Your Rights in the US Territory

Many workers in American Samoa are unsure if the same laws that protect workers in Texas or New York apply to them. Because American Samoa is a US Territory, federal safety standards from OSHA, the EPA, and the Department of Labor are the governing law.

The Discovery Rule: It Is NOT Too Late

One of the most common excuses corporations use is that the exposure happened too long ago. Under the “Discovery Rule,” the statute of limitations in toxic tort cases does not start when you were exposed; it starts when you were diagnosed or when you reasonably should have known that your illness was caused by the exposure.

If you were a pipefitter in the 1970s and were diagnosed with mesothelioma in 2024, your legal window is just beginning. However, this window closes fast—typically within two years of diagnosis. This is why immediate action is required. Attorney Ralph Manginello discusses the critical nature of the statute of limitations in this podcast episode: https://share.transistor.fm/s/bddc1426.

Corporate Successor Liability

If the company you worked for has been bought, sold, or merged, they are still responsible. Under the doctrine of successor liability, the new company often inherits the legal debts and liabilities of the old one. We perform forensic corporate research to find the current “pocket” that holds the money for your claim.

Proof of Exposure: Reconstructing Your History in American Samoa

How do you prove you were breathing asbestos 30 years ago? We don’t expect you to have kept your timecards from 1985. We use a systematic evidence-capture protocol:

Co-Worker Testimony: We locate the men and women you worked with. Their testimony about the “dusty conditions” or “chemical smells” is powerful evidence.
Product Identification: We maintain a database of the specific brands of insulation, gaskets, and solvents used in Pacific shipyards and refineries.
OSHA and EPA Records: We FOIA (Freedom of Information Act) the inspection history of the StarKist cannery, the harbor facilities, and the local power plants to find documented safety violations.
Industrial Hygiene Reconstruction: We hire experts to testify about how many fibers or ppm of benzene were likely in the air based on your specific job description.

The corporations rely on this evidence disappearing. We move to preserve it. As Christopher W. wrote: “Ralph & the Manginello law firm attorneys did more (in less than 8 weeks!) on my car accident case than a previous attorney who had the case for OVER a year.” We bring that same speed and efficiency to reconstructing your exposure history.

Compensation: What a Settlement Means for Your Family

A mesothelioma or leukemia diagnosis isn’t just a health crisis; it’s a financial catastrophe. The cost of medical care, combined with the loss of a household’s breadwinner, can destroy a family’s future.

What Can You Recover?

In a toxic exposure or industrial injury lawsuit, we seek “full and fair” compensation:

Medical Expenses: Past and future costs for chemotherapy, surgery, and palliative care.
Lost Wages and Earning Capacity: The income you would have earned for the rest of your career.
Pain and Suffering: Compensation for the physical agony and emotional terror of a terminal diagnosis.
Loss of Consortium: The impact on your relationship with your spouse and children.
Punitive Damages: In cases of documented cover-ups (like the Sumner Simpson letters), juries can award millions extra just to punish the corporation.

While we can’t promise a specific number, settlements for mesothelioma frequently range from $1 million to $2 million, with trial verdicts reaching much higher. Benzene and railroad (FELA) cases similarly command multi-million dollar values because of the severity of the harm. attorney Ralph Manginello breaks down the factors that determine a million-dollar case here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dmMwE7GqUFI.

Why Choose Attorney 911?

You have many choices when it comes to legal representation. But workers in American Samoa need a firm that understands both the local culture and the global corporate enemy.

27+ Years of Trial Experience: Ralph Manginello isn’t a “settlement mill” lawyer. He is a trial lawyer who corporations fear.
The Defense Insider Advantage: Lupe Peña knows the insurance company’s secrets.
Federal Court Capability: We handle cases in the federal system, which is where almost all toxic tort and maritime cases are resolved.
Bilingual Services: Hablamos Español. Our associate attorney, Mr. Peña, is fluent and ensures everyone in your family understands the process.
No Cost to You: We advance all the costs of the case—the thousands of dollars for experts and filing fees—so you take zero risk.
Personal Access: As S M. shared on Google: “Attorney Manginello is so knowledgeable but straight to the point… Leo and Attorney Ralph Manginello are awesome! It’s rare you find humble people that genuinely care.”

Our principal office is in Houston, Texas, a global center for toxic tort litigation, but our reach and our commitment to justice extend to Pago Pago and every village in American Samoa.

Educational Resources for American Samoa Families

Fighting a toxic disease requires a village. We recommend these resources for immediate help:

Medical Care: If you have symptoms, visit the LBJ Tropical Medical Center in Faga’alu. Ask for a referral to a pulmonary or oncology specialist. https://www.lbjmonline.com
Mesothelioma Info: The National Cancer Institute (NCI) provides the gold standard for treatment information. https://www.cancer.gov/types/mesothelioma
PFAS Mapping: See if your area has been tested using the Environmental Working Group’s map. https://www.ewg.org/interactive-maps/pfas_contamination/
Veteran Screening: Every Sāmoan veteran should contact the VA Pacific Islands Health Care System for a free PACT Act toxic exposure screening. https://www.va.gov/pacific-islands-health-care/
Worker Safety: Report unsafe current conditions to OSHA Region IX, which oversees American Samoa. https://www.osha.gov/contactus/bystate/AS/areaoffice

Frequently Asked Questions for American Samoa Workers

1. I worked at the cannery in Pago Pago 30 years ago. Can I still file a claim?

Yes. Because of the Discovery Rule, the statute of limitations typically doesn’t start until you are diagnosed or learn that your illness is work-related. For many asbestos and benzene diseases, this means people who haven’t set foot in a plant since 1990 can still file today.

2. What if the company that exposed me is now in bankruptcy?

You are actually in a good position. Most major asbestos companies were forced to set up “Bankruptcy Trusts” specifically to pay future claimants like you. We can file with dozens of these trusts simultaneously to maximize your recovery even though the company itself “no longer exists.”

3. Will filing a lawsuit affect my VA disability or Social Security?

No. Personal injury settlements and trust fund payments are generally considered separate from your federal benefits. In fact, receiving a VA rating for a service-connected exposure can actually strengthen your civil case by providing official documentation of your illness and its cause.

4. How long does a toxic exposure case take?

Trust fund claims can often be resolved in 6 to 12 months. A full civil lawsuit against a solvent defendant may take 12 to 24 months. For terminal patients, we often file motions for “trial preference,” asking the court to fast-track the case due to the patient’s health. Attorney Ralph Manginello discusses case timelines here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9nWJu-1DbvY.

5. I was a smoker. Can I still file for an asbestos-related disease?

Absolutely. Smoking does NOT cause mesothelioma. If you have lung cancer, smoking and asbestos have a specialized “synergistic” effect—meaning asbestos makes the damage from smoking exponentially worse. The law recognizes this, and we routinely win significant settlements for former smokers.

6. Do I have to travel to the mainland for my case?

In many cases, no. We use Zoom and teleconferencing for depositions and meetings. We can handle the filing, the research, and the negotiations from our offices, keeping you at home in American Samoa with your family where you belong.

7. What is “take-home” exposure?

This is when a worker brings fibers or chemicals home on their clothes, and their family members get sick. Many wives in American Samoa developed mesothelioma just from washing their husbands’ dusty work clothes. You may have a claim even if you never worked a day in the industry yourself.

8. Is Attorney 911 a referral firm?

No. Unlike many “800-number” firms that just sell your information to another lawyer, we are a litigation firm. When you call 1-888-ATTY-911, you are talking to the firm that will actually handle your file, build the evidence, and fight the corporate defense teams.

9. What if I don’t remember the name of the products I used?

That’s our job. We have “site lists” and product catalogs for almost every major industrial site in the South Pacific. Once you tell us where you worked and what your job was (e.g., “maintenance at Satala Power Plant”), we can identify the specific brands of asbestos, solvents, and machinery you likely encountered.

10. Does a “contingency fee” mean I pay for the experts?

No. We “front” all the costs of the litigation. This includes paying thousands of dollars for the oncologist’s testimony and the industrial hygienist’s reports. If we don’t win your case, you owe us nothing for our time OR for the expenses we spent. It truly is zero risk to your family. Ralph explains how this fee structure works here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=upcI_j6F7Nc.

11. Can I sue for a family member who has already passed away?

Yes. You can file a “Wrongful Death” claim and a “Survival Action.” These allow the family to recover for the funeral costs, the loss of income, and the pain and suffering the family member experienced before they died.

12. Are these claims like a “class action” where I only get a small check?

No. These are individual lawsuits. Your settlement is based on YOUR diagnosis, YOUR medical bills, and YOUR work history. You are not just one of a thousand nameless people; you are a plaintiff with your own specific story.

13. What is “Maintenance and Cure” under the Jones Act?

If you are injured as a seaman, your employer owes you Maintenance (a daily living allowance) and Cure (full medical coverage) immediately, regardless of who was at fault. If they refuse to pay this “no-fault” benefit, they can be on the hook for punitive damages.

14. What if I signed a release or waiver when I started working?

In the case of latent toxic exposure, most “releases” are worthless. You cannot sign away your rights for a cancer you wouldn’t know you had for another 30 years. Federal law and common sense protect you here.

15. Is there a safe amount of asbestos?

No. Every major health organization, including IARC and the WHO, agrees that there is no safe threshold for asbestos exposure. Even a single day of high-intensity exposure (like being in a room where someone was cutting dry insulation) can be enough to trigger mesothelioma.

16. What is “frustrated phagocytosis”?

This is the biological process where your immune cells try to eat an asbestos fiber but can’t. This creates the permanent inflammation that causes cancer. Explaining this science to a jury is how we prove that your employer’s negligence caused your disease.

17. Why is Lupe Peña’s background so important?

Because Lupe used to be the lawyer on the other side. He knows where the companies hide their money, how they document (or fail to document) exposures, and the exact settlement numbers they are authorized to pay. He uses their own internal logic against them.

18. What if I was injured at the Port of Pago Pago?

You are likely covered under the Longshore and Harbor Workers’ Compensation Act (LHWCA). This federal system provides benefits if you are injured on navigable waters or “adjoining areas” like docks and terminals. It is often more generous than territory workers’ comp.

19. How many trust funds are there?

There are currently over 60 active trusts. Many of our clients qualify for claims with 10 to 15 of them based on the variety of products used at a single cannery or power plant. The money in these trusts—totaling over $30 billion—is specifically reserved for people like you.

20. Hablamos Español?

Sí. El abogado Lupe Peña habla español fluido. Entendemos que para muchas familias en la industria de la construcción y la industria pesada, el idioma puede ser una barrera. En Attorney 911, no hay barreras para la justicia.

Taking the First Step Toward Justice

The corporations that profit from the labor of American Samoa have spent millions of dollars on lawyers to tell you that you don’t have a case. They want you to believe that your sickness is your fault or just a part of life. We are here to tell you that they are wrong.

You worked hard. You served your community. You did your part. Now, it is time for them to do theirs. Whether you are in Pago Pago, Leone, Tualauta, or scattered across the islands, Attorney 911 is ready to stand as your advocate. We combine the technical scientific knowledge of how benzene and asbestos destroy human cells with the tactical experience of a former defense insider to build cases that corporations can’t ignore.

As Jamin M. shared in his verified review: “Mr. Manginello guided me through the whole process with great expertise… He was tenacious, accessible, and determined throughout the 19 months of my case… I will be forever thankful to him for everything he did for me and my family.”

Don’t let the evidence disappear. Don’t let the trust fund assets deplete while you wait. The call is free, the consultation is confidential, and the time is now.

Call Attorney 911 at 1-888-ATTY-911 or (888) 288-9911. The corporations that poisoned you have a team of lawyers. Now you have one too.

Attorney 911 / The Manginello Law Firm, PLLC. Principal Office: 1177 W. Loop South, Suite 1600, Houston, TX 77027. Past results do not guarantee future outcomes. No fee unless we win. This information is for educational purposes and does not constitute legal advice. Every case is unique. Contact us for a free consultation about your specific situation.