Thursday, June 25, 2009

The Anna Nicole Saga

The saga of Anna Nicole Smith is arriving in Seattle for a one-day-only performance.

The 9th Circuit Court of Appeals is convening at the old federal courthouse downtown to hear the case of Marshall v. Marshall, the never-ending battle over the estate of Anna Nicole's dead husband, the Texas billionaire J. Howard Marshall.

Anna Nicole married Marshall, an 89-year-old oil tycoon, in 1994. But when he died 13months later, a Texas court ruled that his will didn't include Anna Nicole and awarded all his riches to his son, Pierce.

Anna Nicole's lawyers went to a bankruptcy court in California, which ruled that Pierce Marshall owed Anna Nicole $450 million. A federal district court then reduced that to $88 million. Then the 9th Circuit invalidated that, saying federal courts don't have jurisdiction over state probate matters.

Anna Nicole's took the case to the U.S. Supreme Court, and it ruled in 2006 that the federal court can indeed get involved. So now the 9th Circuit has to take up the actual issues of the money.

Anna Nicole died of a drug overdose in 2007, and Pierce Marshall died in 2006. So that leaves Anna Nicole's sole heir, 2-year-old daughter Dannielynn, fighting with Pierce's heirs.

Full Article and Source:
The Anna Nicole Smith circus is coming to town

See also:
Marshall v. Marshall

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9 comments:

Anonymous said...

I didn't realize this battle was still going on. Geez, the attorneys are raking it in!

Anonymous said...

What a pot of gold Anna Nicole's baby is for the attorneys.

Poor kid.

Anonymous said...

Sad for the child, isn't it?

I'm sure there's lots of money for her --- AND the lawyers and other vultures flying around her, but still ---

It's a crying shame.

Anonymous said...

There won't be lots of money after the lawyers are through!

AntiShyster said...

I hope the lawyers are working pro bono!

helensniece said...

Pro bono lawyers in this case? Dreamland.

Anonymous said...

The lawyers always win.

Anonymous said...

"Lawyers are raking it in"- well, who do you think is paying for this? I'll give you a hint- Dannielynn is 2 years old and I don't think attorneys accept legos as compensation. the only reason that they are still litigating this matter is that the LAWYERS WANT TO BE PAID. I doubt that, if team ANS were to pull off this judicial highway robbery, Dannielynn will ever see a dime.

Anonymous said...

This really is a travesty of the justice system...sounds like the 9th is leaning toward the Marshall family though. Maybe after 14 years, they'll finally get some justice. http://www.ca9.uscourts.gov/media/view_subpage.php?pk_id=0000003654