NEWS

Free Legal Assistance Available for Earthquake and Tsunami Victims

Partnership Between ASBA, ABA and FEMA Helps Residents

UTULEI, AMERICAN SAMOA—The American Samoa Bar Association, in partnership with the American Bar Association Young Lawyers Division and the Federal Emergency Management Agency, is providing free legal assistance to low income victims of the September 29, 2009 earthquake and tsunami. Starting November 16, 2009, please visit the Disaster Legal Services clinic Mondays through Fridays from 12:00 p.m. to 1:00 p.m. and Saturdays from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. at the H. Rex Lee Auditorium in Utulei. The clinic will visit certain affected villages on Saturdays once per month. Prospective clients may also call (684) 258-9830 for appointments or phone consultations.

More information about Disaster Legal Services is available here

Proposed Amendments to the American Samoa Bar Constitution and Bylaws

The amendments to the Bar Constitution and Bylaws which were presented by the Constitution and Bylaws Committee at a meeting of the Bar on October 29, 2009 are available to view at the links below. Comments by the public and bar members (whether active, inactive or honorary) are welcome and can be made via email to Nathan Mease, Doug Fiaui, Clif Harty or Terrie Hartman Bullinger. These amendments will be voted on by active members of the bar at a future bar meeting.

Constitution Amendments Bylaws Amendments

News from the Bar about the Tsunami

RELIEF EFFORTS FOR THE SEPT. 29, 2009 TSUNAMI:  People in American Samoa, Samoa, Tonga, and other islands are working together to help the citizens who have lost loved ones, been injured, or are without housing, food, running water, or electricity.  For those off-island attorneys and others who would like to help, the Bar has suggested a money donation to the Red Cross.  See the general announcement from the Bar entitled (posted 10/2/09).

OTHER LINKS ABOUT THE TSUNAMI AND RELIEF EFFORTS: 

Samoa News has an excellent and up-to-date news and a bulletin board about the tsunami aftermath. There are already many messages online… Web address is www.samoanews.com. (Posted 10/2/09).

Department of Interior Press Release. U.S. Department of Interior, News Release, Secretary Salazar and Assistant Secretary Babauta’s Statements on Earthquake and Tsunami Surges in American Samoa, Sept. 29, 2009, <click here> (accessed Oct. 2, 2009).

Condolences from the White House. Press Releases, President Obama Declares a Major Disaster Exists in American Samoa, Sept. 29, 2009 <click here> & Statement from President Obama, Sept. 30, 2009, <click here> (accessed Oct. 2, 2009).

Insightful article by a local American Samoan. Sia Figiel, New York Times Opinion, The Day of the Tsunami, Sept. 30, 2009, <click here> (accessed Oct. 2, 2009).

An interesting blog from a family in American Samoa. It describes the tsunami and has pictures of the Pago area. Tropical Browns—Our Pacific Island Adventures, Tsunami in American Samoa, Sept. 29, 2009, <click here> (accessed Oct. 2, 2009).

HAVE ANY LINKS ABOUT THE TSUNAMI AND RELIEF EFFORTS? 

If you would like to post a link, news about the local Bar, or any relevant news, please email your request to:

andrew.stave@gmail.com & mdfiaui@gmail.com