The application which People's National Party candidate Richard Azan had filed in the Supreme Court to have Member of Parliament Michael Stern declared bankrupt over a $7 million bill for legal fees, came before the Supreme Court on Thursday.

Lawyers representing the parties told Supreme Court Judge Andrew Rattray they were trying to negotiate a settlement.

The parties will return to court on June 23 which will give the parties sufficient time to settle the matter.

The legal fees stem from Stern's challenge to the service of an election petition. The court said Stern was properly served but Stern is taking the issue to the United Kingdom Privy Council.

Azan is contending in the election petition that Stern was an American citizen when he contested the September 3, 2007 general election and was not entitled to sit in Parliament.

The petition is pending in the Supreme Court.