7 Sep 2011

American Samoan veterans lose lease claim case

6:01 pm on 7 September 2011

The American Samoa High Court has ruled that the Veterans Association's lease of the property, where its clubhouse sits, has expired.

It agrees with the government that the VA is a holdover tenant.

The administration had argued the lease expired in 2007 while the VA claims it doesn't expire until 2017.

The VA had argued a 30-year lease agreed in 1977 didn't become effective until ten years later - an argument the court has rejected.

The VA's lawyer, Mark Ude, says they still have time before making a formal response to the court ruling.

"We have ten days from the day of the order to address what we believe are concerns by my client regarding what the court addressed or didn't address."