Someone Is Responsible for Your Illness: Goliad County Toxic Exposure and Industrial Injury Advocacy

You didn’t know. For twenty years, thirty years, or even longer, you woke up before dawn in Goliad County, kissed your family goodbye, and went to do the hard work that builds Texas. You worked the rigs in the Eagle Ford Shale, you maintained the rail lines that cut through the San Antonio River valley, or you commuted down Highway 59 to the massive refineries of the Gulf Coast. You handled the chemicals, you breathed the dust, and you cut the insulation, and through it all, you believed your employer was keeping you safe. Nobody told you the microscopic fibers you breathed or the sweet-smelling vapors you inhaled would one day try to take your life. Now, the diagnosis has changed everything, and you have realized that what happened to you wasn’t bad luck—it was exposure. Goliad County workers have spent decades fueling the world, but many of the corporations that profited from that labor were hiding a deadly secret. We at Attorney 911 are here to tell you that there is a word for what happened to you: it’s corporate negligence, and we have dedicated our careers to making them pay for it.

The cough that won’t go away, the sudden weight loss, or the crushing fatigue that prevents you from enjoying a Saturday at Goliad State Park isn’t just a sign of aging. If you worked at an industrial site near Victoria, Corpus Christi, or directly in Goliad County and have been diagnosed with mesothelioma, leukemia, or another occupational disease, your history of exposure is likely the cause. At Attorney 911, led by founding attorney Ralph Manginello and backed by the insider intelligence of former insurance defense attorney Lupe Peña, we don’t just file claims. We conduct a multi-front litigation attack against the manufacturers, employers, and property owners who treated Goliad County workers as expendable. With over 27 years of experience and a track record that includes the $2.1 billion BP Texas City Refinery explosion litigation, Ralph Manginello knows how to take on the giants. We provide immediate, aggressive, and professional help because we understand that when you are fighting a toxic exposure diagnosis, every day is a 911 emergency.

The Insider Advantage: Why Goliad County Workers Trust Us

Choosing a lawyer for a toxic exposure case is the most important financial and medical decision your family will ever make. Most law firms in South Texas are “settlement mills” that sign up thousands of clients and hand them off to a paralegal who will never learn your name. We are different. Ralph Manginello gives clients his personal cell phone number because he believes in direct accountability. We have seen the devastation that corporate greed visits upon Goliad County families, and we refuse to be a billboard firm. We are a trial firm.

Our most potent weapon is Lupe Peña. Lupe spent years working for a national defense firm, sitting in the boardrooms where insurance companies and corporate defendants plot how to undervalue, delay, and deny claims from injured workers. He knows the playbook they use to hide evidence of chemical exposure and minimize the projected value of a life. Now, he uses that “spy from the other side” knowledge to tear their defenses apart. When a corporation tries to argue that your cancer was caused by something other than their product, Lupe identifies the tactic before they even finish the motion. Combined with Ralph’s 27+ years of courtroom experience and federal court admission in the Southern District of Texas, our team represents the most dangerous opposition a corporate defendant can face. As Brian B. wrote in his verified Google review, “Attorney 911/Manginello Law Firm have definitely changed my views… this law firm has great litigators. Very informative and professional.” We bring that same 4.9-star-rated dedication to the fight for Goliad County’s backbone—the industrial workers.

Check out our YouTube channel to see our approach to litigation:
https://www.youtube.com/@Manginellolawfirm

The Science of Betrayal: How Toxic Substances Destroy the Human Body

To win a toxic exposure case in Goliad County, you must understand the science that the corporations tried to suppress. We lead with the molecular facts because the science is where the truth resides. When we stand before a jury or a trust fund administrator, we don’t just say a substance is “dangerous.” We explain the biological mechanism of failure that caused your specific disease. This technical depth is why we are successful where other firms fail.

Mesothelioma and the Failure of Frustrated Phagocytosis

Asbestos is the only known cause of mesothelioma, a terminal cancer of the lining of the lungs, abdomen, or heart. For workers in Goliad County who handled Kaylo pipe insulation or Unibestos block in refineries, the process of destruction began decades ago. Asbestos is not one mineral, but a group of silicate minerals forming microscopic, needle-like fibers. When you breathed that “white dust” on the job site, you were inhaling amosite or chrysotile fibers that are roughly 0.1 to 10 micrometers in size.

Once inhaled, these fibers travel deep into the alveolar region of the lungs and migrate to the pleural lining (the mesothelium). Here, the body’s immune system attempts to protect you. Macrophages—the immune system’s “clean-up” cells—try to engulf and dissolve the fibers. But asbestos is indestructible. This leads to a biological event known as “frustrated phagocytosis.” The macrophages die while trying to destroy the fibers, releasing a cascade of inflammatory cytokines, including TNF-α and IL-1β. This triggers chronic inflammation that lasts for 20, 30, or 50 years. This ongoing inflammatory state produces reactive oxygen species (ROS) that directly damage your DNA and eventually deactivate tumor suppressor genes like BAP1 and p16. After decades of this silent battle, a cell undergoes malignant transformation, and mesothelioma is born.

Benzene and the Bone Marrow Microenvironment

If you worked in the Eagle Ford Shale oilfields or at the refineries along the Gulf Coast, you were likely exposed to benzene—a sweet-smelling, colorless liquid that is a natural component of crude oil. Benzene doesn’t just make you sick; it rewrites your blood at the molecular level. When inhaled or absorbed through the skin, benzene is metabolized in the liver by the CYP2E1 enzyme into benzene oxide and subsequently into muconaldehyde and p-benzoquinone.

These metabolites concentrate in your bone marrow, where they attack hematopoietic stem cells—the master cells that create your red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets. The muconaldehyde binds to the DNA of these stem cells, causing specific chromosomal translocations, particularly t(8;21) or inv(16). These genetic mutations stop your blood cells from maturing properly, leading to Myelodysplastic Syndrome (MDS) or Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML). The industries in Goliad County have known about benzene’s leukemogenic properties since the 1920s, but they continued to expose workers while arguing that “safe” levels existed. The truth is there is no safe level of benzene exposure.

As Ralph Manginello explains in this video on million-dollar cases, catastrophic injuries like leukemia and mesothelioma require a firm that understands the science:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dmMwE7GqUFI

Goliad County’s Industrial Profile: Where the Exposure Happened

Goliad County is unique. We are a land of historic sites like Presidio La Bahia, but we are also a critical piece of the Texas energy and infrastructure complex. The exposure that sickened Goliad County workers didn’t just happen at one plant; it happened across an interconnected web of oilfields, railroads, and industrial commutations.

The Eagle Ford Shale and Oilfield Exposure

Since the late 2000s, Goliad County has been a staging ground for the Eagle Ford Shale boom. Workers in Goliad, Fannin, and Weesatche have provided the labor for thousands of hydraulic fracturing operations. This work involves intense exposure to:

• Crystalline Silica: Fracking sand is nearly pure silica. When sand is moved, it creates a fine dust that workers inhale. This causes silicosis, an irreversible scarring of the lungs that increases the risk of lung cancer and tuberculosis.
• Hydrogen Sulfide (H2S): This toxic gas, common in South Texas oilfields, can cause immediate respiratory failure and long-term neurological damage even at low concentrations.
• Drilling Fluids and Chemicals: Many of the proprietary chemicals used in the fracking process contain PFAS (“forever chemicals”) and other undisclosed toxins that contaminate local groundwater.

The Union Pacific Corridor and Railroad Heritage

The railroad has been a primary employer in Goliad County for over a century. Railroad workers—the conductors, engineers, and maintenance-of-way crews—facing unique hazards that standard workers’ compensation doesn’t cover. Historically, steam locomotives were wrapped in asbestos insulation, and brake shoes were made of chrysotile asbestos. Every time a worker in a Goliad railyard inspected a train, they were potentially inhaling fibers. Furthermore, diesel exhaust in enclosed roundhouses is a known carcinogen linked to lung and bladder cancer.

The Commuter Pipeline to the Gulf Coast

Because Goliad County is centrally located between Victoria, Corpus Christi, and the Houston corridor, many of our residents have spent their careers commuting to the world’s largest industrial sites. We represent workers who spent decades at:

• The Corpus Christi Refinery Rows: Citgo, Valero, and Flint Hills Resources.
• The Victoria Industrial Base: DuPont and Invista (Sabine River Works connection).
• Port Lavaca and Texas City: The heavy petrochemical complexes.

These workers brought Goliad County values to the job, and they brought toxic fibers back home on their clothes. Secondary exposure to wives who laundered work clothes and children who hugged their fathers is a major cause of mesothelioma in Goliad County families. If you or a family member is sick, even if you never set foot in a refinery, your “take-home” exposure history must be investigated.

Axis 1: The Substances of Destruction

We categorize toxic exposure claims by the substance involved. Each represents a different legal framework and a different history of corporate concealment.

1. Mesothelioma and Asbestos Exposure (The Anchor)

Asbestos manufacturers knew their products were lethal as early as 1898. In 1935, Sumner Simpson, the president of Raybestos-Manhattan, wrote to another executive, “I think the less said about asbestos, the better off we are.” They hid the truth for decades while Goliad County insulators, pipefitters, and boilermakers were coated in the dust.

Today, while many of these companies have filed for bankruptcy, they were forced by the courts to create trust funds to pay for the damage they caused. There are over 60 active trust funds with approximately $30 billion in assets. We know how to navigate the complex “Trust Distribution Procedures” to get Goliad County families their share before the money runs out.

2. Benzene and Industrial Chemicals

The Texas Gulf Coast petrochemical industry represents the highest concentration of benzene risk in the world. If you were a refinery operator or a tank cleaner in South Texas and have been diagnosed with AML, CML, or MDS, your medical records may contain the “biomarkers” of benzene exposure. We work with board-certified hematologists to prove the connection and hold the multi-billion-dollar oil companies accountable.

3. PFAS / “Forever Chemicals”

PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances) are indestructible chemicals used in firefighting foam (AFFF) at airports and military bases, and in hundreds of industrial processes. They bioaccumulate in the human body, binding to proteins in the blood and liver. PFAS have been linked to kidney cancer, testicular cancer, and thyroid disease. If your Goliad County water supply or private well has tested positive for PFAS, or if you were a firefighter at a South Texas installation, you may have a claim against the chemical giants like 3M and DuPont.

4. Camp Lejeune Water Contamination

Many veterans in Goliad County spent time at Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune in North Carolina. Between 1953 and 1987, the water there was contaminated with TCE, PCE, and benzene at 280 times the safety limit. The Camp Lejeune Justice Act of 2022 finally allows those veterans and their families to sue the U.S. government. The window to file is narrowing, and we are helping South Texas Marines get the compensation they earned through their service and suffering.

5. Roundup and Pesticide Exposure

Goliad County’s agricultural roots mean many of our residents have spent years using Roundup (glyphosate) on ranches and farms. The “Monsanto Papers”—internal documents revealed in recent litigation—prove that Monsanto ghostwrote studies to say Roundup was safe while knowing it was linked to Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma. We fight for the farmers and landscapers of Goliad who are now paying the price for the industry’s deception.

6. Zantac and Pharmaceutical Torts

Even the “safe” heartburn medication in your medicine cabinet could be a carcinogen. Zantac (ranitidine) was found to break down into NDMA—a potent cancer-causing chemical—when exposed to heat or stored over time. If you took Zantac for years and now have bladder, stomach, or gastric cancer, you are part of an evolving mass tort that we are actively pursuing.

Axis 2: The Dangerous Industries of Goliad County

Where you worked determines the law that protects you. We understand the specific statutes that govern Goliad County’s primary industries.

9. Maritime and The Jones Act

Goliad County workers commute to the ports of Corpus Christi and Victoria. If you are a “seaman”—meaning you spend at least 30% of your time in service of a vessel—you are protected by the Jones Act (46 USC § 30104). This federal law allows you to sue your employer for negligence, rather than being limited to the small checks provided by workers’ compensation. Furthermore, the doctrine of “unseaworthiness” creates a strict liability standard for vessel owners.

Ralph Manginello’s ultimate guide to offshore accidents is a must-watch for maritime workers:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5vd_HVPtPf4

10. FELA Railroad Injuries

Railroad employees in Goliad County are not covered by Texas workers’ comp. Instead, you are protected by the Federal Employers’ Liability Act (FELA). FELA is a powerful law that uses a “featherweight” burden of proof—if the railroad’s negligence played ANY part, even the slightest, in your injury or toxic exposure, they are liable for your full damages, including pain and suffering.

11. Construction Accidents and Scaffold Falls

Goliad County is seeing a boom in infrastructure and commercial development. If you fell from a scaffold or were hit by equipment on a job site, your employer will tell you that workers’ comp is all you get. They are likely lying. We identify “third-party claims” against the general contractor, the property owner, or the equipment manufacturer. These claims often pay 10 times more than workers’ comp because they have no damage caps.

12. Industrial Explosions and Refinery “Events”

When a refinery has a “process upset” or an explosion, Goliad County families feel the vibration. Ralph Manginello was a part of the litigation after the 2005 BP explosion killed 15 and injured over 170. We understand OSHA’s Process Safety Management (PSM) standards (29 CFR 1910.119). If an employer fails to conduct a proper “Hazard Analysis,” they are essentially setting a ticking time bomb. We ensure that when that bomb goes off, the company—not the worker—suffers the financial consequence.

Bridge Content: The Multi-Claim Advantage

Most firms see one case. We see the full recovery “stack.” A Goliad County worker often has multiple simultaneous pathways to compensation. For example:

• The Shipyard Worker: A worker at a nearby shipyard who was exposed to asbestos and later injured on a vessel has a Mesothelioma Trust Fund claim AND a Jones Act negligence claim.
• The Refinery Contractor: A pipefitter at a Victoria refinery who was burned in a flash fire and had decades of benzene exposure has a Third-Party Injury claim AND a Benzene Personal Injury lawsuit.
• The Veteran in Construction: A Goliad Marine who drank the water at Lejeune and was later injured in a crane collapse has a CLJA claim AND a Construction Negligence claim.

Attorney 911 pursues ALL pathways. We don’t leave money on the table because we understand how these different areas of law overlap.

Exposing the Defense Playbook: How Corporations Fight Goliad County Claims

Lupe Peña knows the secrets of industrial defense because he worked on their side. When you hire Attorney 911, you get a team that anticipates the following tactics:

1. The “Identification” Defense: They will argue you can’t prove their specific product caused your mesothelioma because you worked with 50 different products. Our Counter: We use work history reconstruction and co-worker affidavits to prove their product was a “substantial factor,” which is all the law requires.
2. The “Smoking” Smokescreen: In lung cancer cases, they will try to blame your 1970s smoking habit. Our Counter: Science shows that smoking and asbestos have a SYNERGISTIC effect. Asbestos makes the risk for smokers 50 times higher. They don’t get a pass because you smoked; they owe MORE because they put a smoker at extreme risk.
3. The “Workers’ Comp Shield”: They will say workers’ comp is your only remedy. Our Counter: We pierce the shield by finding third-party defendants (manufacturers, contractors, premises owners) who are not your employer and can be sued for full damages.
4. The Junk Science Offensive: They hire “expert” witnesses who get paid $1,000 an hour to say benzene doesn’t cause leukemia. Our Counter: We utilize the Daubert standard to challenge their experts and bring in the world’s leading oncologists and toxicologists from institutions like MD Anderson.

Watch how Ralph handles the tactics of insurance companies here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9UKRbFprB0E

Compensation: What Your Goliad County Case Is Worth

We never promise a specific number, but we can tell you what the data shows for cases like yours. In toxic tort law, the damages are often significant because the harm is permanent and the corporate conduct was willful.

• Mesothelioma: Average settlements range between $1 million and $2 million, with trial verdicts often reaching $5 million to $15 million. Punitive damages against companies that hid evidence can drive these numbers even higher.
• Refinery/Industrial Explosions: Settlements for serious burns or TBI often range from $2 million to $20 million+, depending on the number of liable parties.
• Benzene/AML: Verdicts for bone marrow cancer in refinery workers have exceeded $100 million when corporate concealment of leukemia risk was proven.
• Asbestos Trust Funds: While individual trust payments may be smaller (e.g., the Manville Trust paying 10% of claim value), most Goliad County workers qualify for 10 or 15 different trusts, which can stack into several hundred thousand dollars in “fast” compensation while the lawsuit proceeds.

We work on a contingency fee basis. You pay nothing upfront. We advance all costs for medical experts, industrial hygienists, and court filings. If we don’t recover money for you, you owe us nothing. As Stephanie H. shared in her 5-star review, “I just never felt so taken care of… she immediately reassured me and took me seriously with no hesitation at all.”

Evidence Preservation: A Goliad County Emergency

Evidence in toxic exposure cases doesn’t just disappear; it is actively destroyed. Companies shred safety records, buildings containing asbestos are demolished, and co-worker witnesses pass away.

Within 48 hours of being hired, we send Spoliation Preservation Letters to your current and former employers. We demand the preservation of:

• OSHA 300 Logs and industrial hygiene sampling data.
• Material Safety Data Sheets (SDS) from the years you worked.
• Personnel and medical monitoring files.
• Maintenance records for equipment like boilers and turbines.

If you are a Goliad County resident who has been diagnosed, the clock is ticking. The Texas “Discovery Rule” means the 2-year statute of limitations starts when you find out you are sick, but every month you wait is a month that a vital witness or a corporate record could disappear.

Goliad County Toxic Exposure FAQ

1. I was exposed to asbestos in Victoria in the 1970s. Is it too late to file in Goliad County?

No. Under the Texas discovery rule, your time to file generally begins when you were diagnosed with an asbestos-related disease, not when you were exposed. A specialized Goliad County toxic exposure attorney can evaluate your specific timeline.

2. Can I file a mesothelioma claim if my former employer is out of business?

Yes. Most major asbestos companies were forced into bankruptcy and established trust funds to pay future claims. We can file claims against these trusts even if the company no longer exists.

3. How do I prove I was exposed to benzene at a refinery?

We use work history reconstruction, union records, and industrial hygiene experts who can model the chemical concentrations present during your years of employment. We don’t need you to have saved a bottle of the chemical; we prove it through the records they were supposed to keep.

4. What is the average settlement for a Camp Lejeune claim in Goliad County?

Settlements are currently being determined, but ranges are projected between $150,000 and $450,000+ depending on the severity of the illness. Veterans should call 1-888-ATTY-911 immediately to preserve their spot in the litigation.

5. My husband died of cancer before we knew it was work-related. Can I still sue?

Yes. You may have a “Wrongful Death” claim and a “Survival Action.” We can investigate his work history to determine if his cancer was caused by toxic exposure, even after his passing.

6. Can a railroad worker sue for asbestos exposure in Goliad?

Yes, under FELA. Railroads were a major user of asbestos and owe their workers a safe environment. We have handled numerous FELA claims for railroad crews.

7. Does my immigration status affect my right to sue for toxic exposure?

Absolutely not. Every worker in Goliad County, regardless of their status, has the right to a safe workplace and the right to compensation for injuries. As attorney Magali Candler discusses in her podcast with us, your rights are protected.
https://share.transistor.fm/s/7787dfb4

8. What are the first symptoms of mesothelioma I should look for?

Shortness of breath, a persistent dry cough, chest wall pain that worsens with deep breathing, and unexplained weight loss. If you have these symptoms and a history of industrial work, tell your doctor about your asbestos exposure immediately.

9. How long does a toxic exposure case take to settle?

Trust fund claims can pay out in 90 days to 6 months. A full lawsuit against a solvent (non-bankrupt) company typically takes 12 to 24 months, though we can petition for an “Expedited Trial Docket” for terminal patients.

10. Can I sue for Roundup exposure if I worked on a ranch in Goliad County?

Yes. If you have been diagnosed with Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma and have a history of Roundup usage, you may be entitled to part of the multi-billion-dollar settlements being paid by Bayer/Monsanto.

11. Is there a difference between mesothelioma and asbestosis?

Yes. Mesothelioma is a malignant cancer of the lining of the lungs. Asbestosis is a chronic, non-cancerous scarring of the lung tissue itself. Both are caused by asbestos and both are compensable.

12. Can I collect from a trust fund AND a lawsuit?

Yes. Pursuing both “solvent” and “insolvent” defendants is a key part of our strategy to maximize your recovery.

13. How much does a Goliad County toxic exposure lawyer cost?

We work on 100% contingency. There are no hourly fees and no upfront costs. We only get paid if we win your case.

14. What if I was a smoker and have lung cancer after working in a refinery?

You still have a case. Asbestos and benzene exposure multiply the risks of smoking. The corporate defendants are responsible for the “multiplier effect” they caused.

15. Where do I go for the best mesothelioma treatment near Goliad County?

MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston is the #1 cancer hospital in the nation and is less than 3 hours from Goliad. Their thoracic oncology team is the gold standard for mesothelioma care.

16. What are PFAS and where would a Goliad County worker be exposed?

PFAS are “forever chemicals” used in firefighting foams, industrial lubricants, and non-stick coatings. Exposure often happens at military bases, airports, or manufacturing plants.

17. Can I sue for a trench collapse if my employer didn’t have shoring?

Yes. OSHA requires shoring or sloping for any trench over 5 feet deep. If they sent you into an unprotected trench in Goliad, they broke federal law.

18. What is a “third-party claim” in a construction accident?

It is a claim against a company other than your employer—such as the property owner or the company that manufactured a defective scaffold. These claims allow you to recover far more than workers’ comp.

19. I worked at a refinery during a “turnaround.” Does that increase my exposure?

Yes. Turnarounds often involve the demolition of old, insulated equipment and the opening of lines containing benzene. This is a high-risk period for toxic exposure.

20. How do I know which asbestos trust funds to file with?

That is where our expertise comes in. We have a database of which asbestos products were used at every major facility in South Texas over the last 60 years.

21. What is the “exclusive remedy” rule in Texas workers’ comp?

It means you generally can’t sue your employer if they carry workers’ comp—but there are exceptions for “gross negligence” and “intentional acts.” Furthermore, it NEVER prevents you from suing a third party.

22. Can I receive VA benefits and still file a mesothelioma lawsuit?

Yes. VA disability and civil litigation are two separate pathways. One does not prevent the other.

23. What is silisosis and how is it different from asbestosis?

Silicosis is caused by sand dust (silica), common in fracking and glass making. Asbestosis is caused by asbestos mineral fibers. Both cause permanent lung scarring.

24. Who is responsible for NDMA in Zantac?

The manufacturers, including Sanofi and GSK, who produced an unstable molecule that they knew (or should have known) would break down into a carcinogen.

25. Will I have to go to court in a toxic exposure case?

Most cases settle during the mediation phase. If a court appearance is necessary, we handle all the logistics. Ralph has great courtroom experience, as described by past clients.

26. Can I switch lawyers if my current firm isn’t returning my calls?

Yes. In Texas, you have the right to fire your lawyer at any time and seek representation that provides better communication and results.

27. How do I preserve evidence after an industrial accident?

Take photos of the equipment, the chemicals, and the scene. Write down the names of every coworker who saw what happened. Call Attorney 911 immediately so we can send a forensic team to the site.

28. What is the statute of repose in Texas?

It is an absolute deadline (often 10-15 years) for suing over defective products or construction. However, it often does not apply to latent disease cases like mesothelioma. We will evaluate your specific dates.

29. Is Goliad General equipped to diagnose toxic exposure diseases?

Goliad General is a great local resource, but for a definitive occupational disease diagnosis, we usually recommend specialists in Victoria or at MD Anderson who have advanced pathology and imaging tools.

30. Why should I choose Attorney 911 over a big national firm?

Because we are your neighbors, and we treat you like family. You aren’t a number on a spreadsheet; you are a person whose life has been upended. Ralph answers his phone, and we know the Goliad community.

Your Fight Starts With One Call to 1-888-ATTY-911

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. The corporation that exposed you to toxins has a team of lawyers and billion-dollar insurance policies. You need a team that knows their tactics and isn’t afraid to take them to trial. For 27+ years, Ralph Manginello has been the “Pitt Bull” for injured workers. We handle the claims, the paperwork, and the corporate defense teams so you can focus on your health and your family. Reach out to Attorney 911—your Goliad County advocates in a legal emergency.

Attorney 911 | The Manginello Law Firm
1177 W. Loop South, Suite 1600, Houston, TX 77027
Principal Office: Houston, Texas
Call 1-888-ATTY-911 anytime. We are here 24/7.
Hablamos Español. Llame a Lupe Peña al 1-888-ATTY-911 para una consulta gratis. Su estatus migratorio NO afecta sus derechos legales.