The High Court has adjourned proceedings in the estate dispute over the will of the late Asot Michael until May 20, as both parties work to identify a handwriting expert to assess the authenticity of the contested document.
According to Antigua News Room, Acting High Court Judge M.E. Birnie Stephenson ordered both sides to submit details on proposed expert witnesses, including their availability, costs, and willingness to serve.
Michael, the former St. Peter Member of Parliament and government minister, was found dead at his Dry Hill home in November 2024. A will signed in March 2021 is now at the centre of a legal dispute — challenged by his son, Nigel Michael, and defended by his sisters, Teresa-Anne and Soraya Michael.
Nigel Michael, represented by Hugh Marshall and Chantal Marshall, alleges the will is a forgery and contends that his father lacked mental capacity due to intoxication at the time of signing. The sisters, represented by Dr. Errol Cort, Alketz Joseph, and Jada Cort, have rejected those allegations.
While both parties agreed that a handwriting expert is necessary, they were unable to agree on who should fill that role. Michael's sisters objected to Nigel Michael's proposed expert, Beverly East, citing concerns about possible bias.
Justice Stephenson dismissed the objection, stating there was no evidence to support the allegation and noting that accusations of bias require a "clear and cogent basis."
The judge also criticised Nigel Michael's legal team for failing to properly consult the opposing side while seeking a jointly agreed expert.
The court ruled that a single joint expert should be appointed, with both parties sharing responsibility for all related costs and expenses.
