Anna Nicole Loses 14-year-old Estate Cash Battle
By WENNMonday, March 22, 2010
Tragic actress/model ANNA NICOLE SMITH’s long-running battle with her dead husband’s estate appears to be over - federal appeals court judges have ruled the star should get nothing
Before she died in 2007, Smith was asking for more than $300 million (GBP188 million) from oil tycoon J. Howard Marshall’s estate.
She maintained Marshall promised her the cash during their 14-month marriage, which ended with the 89-year-old’s death in 1995.
But, on Friday (19Mar10), officials at the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in California agreed with the decision of a probate court judge in Texas, who previously ruled that Marshall did not intend to leave the late star any money.
The Texas probate court ruled against Smith after a five-month jury trial.
The model was awarded $450 million - later reduced to $88 million - from the Marshall estate when she filed for bankruptcy in 1996, but the new ruling to give the Smith estate nothing now stands.
An attorney for the Marshall estate says, “We’re very happy with the opinion. We’re hoping this is the end of the road.”
