26 Jan 2019

Former Samoa cabinet minister struck from damages claim

1:42 pm on 26 January 2019

A Samoa MP and former cabinet minister, Laauli Leuatea Schmidt, has been struck out as one of the plaintiffs in a local nonu company's civil claim for damages against a businessman and a government associate minister, Peseta Vaifou Tevaga.

The MP's Maota o Samoa investment group business, which his family operates, has also been removed from the list of four applicants in the legal action.

Laaulialemalietoa Leuatea Polataivao Fosi Schmidt

Laaulialemalietoa Leuatea Polataivao Fosi Schmidt Photo: RNZI/Autagavaia Tipi Autagavaia

This has been revealed in a decision by the Supreme Court on the application by the plaintiffs to enforce the undertaking claim for damages.

That claim hds been filed by two of the three directors of the Local Partners and Associates nonu company, in which Laauli Leuatea Schmidt was involved.

At the same Peseta had unsuccessfully sought to have the claim and his lawyer did not succeed in the claim to be totally struck out.

The associate Minister's son is one of the directors for the company.

Peseta Vaifou Tevaga

Peseta Vaifou Tevaga Photo: RNZI/Autagavaia Tipi Autagavaia

The court ruled that the $US4.5 million dollar damages claim from company directors' Apulu Lance Polu, Martin Schwalger, and Local Partners & Associates can proceed.