The Sixth Judicial Circuit Civil Law Court of Judge Yamie G. Gbelsay has listened to the testimony of Cllr. Varney Sharman about his involvement with the late Sermon Grann’s adopted son, Joseph Grann. In his testimony, Cllr. Sherman said he does not know Joseph Grann personally; they got in contact through his law firm, Sherman and Sherman, in the case involving late Sermon Grann, Joseph Grann, Alice Grann and Roosevelt Vogat, plaintiff, versus Sherman and Sherman, R. Fole Sherman Building, defendant, on July 18, 2022.
Cllr. Sherman told court that it was his law firm that prepared the adoption papers and conducted the proceedings at the Monthly and Probate Court, a service he rendered for which funds were paid for service.
Cllr. Sherman said being a lawyer for REELIN Liberia, Inc., of which the late Sermon Grann was first Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer for proximately 20 years, the late Sermon Grann was also a personal friend.
Cllr. Sherman further stated that the adoption papers were drafted by Cllr. Moses Paygar, who was then the Managing Director of Sherman and Sherman. It was not signed by him, Cllr. Sherman.
Witness Sherman told court that they were signed by Sermon Grann himself, and his signature was witnessed by Cllr. Golda Elliott, formerly of Sherman and Sherman, and Rebecca Parker, their Finance and Administrative Manager, and Grann endorsed his signature with his personal seal on the documents.
Witness Sherman said, “The document just identified by me was the information to Joseph Grann that the late Sermon Grann left a last will and testament, but before then he and I had exchanged WhatsApp text about the demise of Sermon Grann and the funeral arrangements we were making for him based on instructions that he had given to us at the time. He insisted that he should be informed about the will immediately upon the death of this adoptive father, which is not how these things are done. “You bury the deceased first and you later call about how the estate of the deceased will be dispose of.”
Witness Sherman further said that the will named several beneficiaries. Sam Duogan is one of the beneficiaries. He was Financial Manager for Reelin Liberia, Inc.
Witness Sherman told court that another beneficiary is Amost Quaye, who was the Gardener and duty house boy to Sermon Grann. Another beneficiary is Rev. Clementina Johnson, the Executive Secretary to Sermon Grann.