COUNSEL FILES A RESPONSE IN THE GASTON BROWNE CORRUPTION DISCOVERY CASE, EXPOSING THE FATAL FLAWS IN THE INTERVENORS' DEFENSES; THE COURT THEN RULED IN THE APPLICANT'S FAVOR

The attorneys for the yacht owner ("Applicant") in the §1782 Discovery proceeding have filed a Response, constituting a rebuttal to the motions filed by the Gaston Browne parties ("Movants"), seeking to lift the temporary Stay imposed by the Court, and detailing the reasons why the case should proceed, and the Court has responded.

Briefly, the Response makes these central points:
(1) The Stay should be lifted, as the factors that case law have held require it to be imposed do not exist.

(2) The Browne parties have no legal Standing to Stay Discovery from those who have not Intervened, and the facts indicate that they are not likely to succeed on the Merits.

(3) The Browne parties have no protectable privacy interests here, and any possible or purported interests they have will not be injured if the Stay is lifted.

(4) Leaving the Stay in place will substantially injure the Applicant.

(5) The Public Interest in Antigua does not support a Stay.

(6) If the Court is concerned about Privacy Interests, an alternative, entering a Protective Order, limiting access to the Discovery to the attorneys only would provide an alternative solution.

The District Court entered an Order after the filing of the Response:

We shall continue to follow all development in this case of great public importance to the Caribbean as they unfold' Stay tuned.