The American Samoa Senate has passed legislation to pay up following a lawsuit filed 10 years ago by former assistant attorney general, Virginia Gibbons, against the territorial government.
Last month, the High Court ordered the government to pay her claim for compensation for being sexually assaulted by an escaped inmate nearly 20 years ago.
The original order in 2001 was for the government to pay her 257,000 US dollars plus six percent interest but the government never paid out the money.
Government officials now believe the full payment will reach more than half a million dollars.
Senators rushed to pass the measure without any hearings and the bill now goes to the House for approval.
