MONROVIA – The Supreme Court of Liberia has overturned a lower court verdict in a high-stakes property case involving the Intestate Estate of the late William Thomas Bernard and his widow, Danilette Tucker Bernard. The ruling marks a decisive turn in a legal dispute that has lingered for years and captured national attention due to the property’s political significance.
The Sixth Judicial Circuit, Civil Law Court, had earlier awarded sole ownership of the estate’s 12.92-acre land to Mrs. Bernard, but the high court ruled that the trial court erred in its interpretation of the law. At the heart of the case was a prime parcel of land jointly acquired by the couple during their marriage, which later became the site of the former ruling Congress for Democratic Change (CDC) headquarters.
In its decision, the Supreme Court held that the Civil Law Court misapplied the principle of survivorship by transferring full ownership to Mrs. Bernard following her husband’s death. The Justices clarified that once a marriage is dissolved by death, survivorship ceases, and the property reverts to the estate for probate administration.
Attorneys representing the Bernard Estate pointed to inconsistencies in deeds and legal filings dating back to 2017 and 2018. They argued that the trial court overlooked key evidence, including property valuation and ownership records. The high court concurred, finding that the jury verdict should have been set aside because of significant legal and factual discrepancies.
The ruling also affirms an earlier eviction order issued against the CDC headquarters, reinforcing that the land is part of the Bernard Estate and not the sole property of the widow.
The decision was signed by Chief Justice Sie-A-Nyene Yuoh and all Associate Justices of the Supreme Court, cementing the high court’s stance on the matter and setting a precedent for future inheritance and property disputes.
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