ANTIGUA'S PRIME MINISTER MAKES A MAJOR LEGAL ERROR WHEN HE SUES AN AMERICAN LAWYER FOR DEFAMATION; IT'S CALLED 28 U.S.C. §1782

(*32 page Memorandum filed yesterday)

GASTON BROWNE, the arrogant Prime Minister of ANTIGUA AND BARBUDA, who has found himself in the cross-hairs of international accusations of corruption, after an American lawyer, representing the claimants in the ALFA NERO luxury yacht scandal, alleged that Browns personally received a six million dollar kickback, in connection with a suspicious government sale of the vessel at a price substantially under its market value.
 Browne recently filed a Defamation action in Antiguas against the attorney and his law firm, which most legal observers have indicated was a major tactical error, if not professional negligence (also known as legal malpractice), on the part of his personal lawyer (believed to be ANTHONY ASTAPHAN). You see, under American law, any American citizens and residents sued abroad can file a §1782 action in a US court, seeking Discovery, to aid their defense in that foreign case. The Alfa Nero had previously been named in Antigua litigation, and the vessel's owner had filed a §1782 action in the US, which the Court ultimately dismissed, as the Antigua case had already gone to trial, and any information which might be revealed was too late to affect the Antigua court's decision, in the American court's reasoning. 
 Browne claimed that decision was a major victory for him, but by now filing a new action in Antigua, against the owner's attorney, he has opened the door to a new §1782 filing; which the lawyer has already taken steps to bring. Now you understand how foolish the new Defamation suit was, especially since in Antigua, Truth is an absolute defense to such an action, and the evidence against Browne, regarding the multi-million dollar kickback, is damning.
 To make matters worse, Caribbean media is asserting that Browne's Defamation action has also opened the courthouse door to possibly implicate his immediate family in the asserted misconduct, including a son who lives in the United States, and who is alleged to be the recipient of illicit assets of his father. This adds a new dimension to any potential criminal exposure, under US law, for money laundering, fraud and corruption in the Alfa Nero case. We will be closely following the American Federal proceedings, and will report regularly on all developments there as they occur; meanwhile, we watch today's Snap National Election in Antigua & Barbuda, which may have been called by Browne solely to protect himself from criminal prosecution in the United States. Stay tuned.
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* A portion of the Supplemental Memorandum of law appears beliow.