Anna Nicole Smith’s estate — the story continues

The saga of Anna Nicole Smith and her claims (now her estate’s claims) against the estate of her husband (J. Howard Marshall) continues.

Here are some details from High court ruling sought in Anna Nicole Smith case, Dailynews.com, March 11, 2009:

A writ before the U.S. Supreme Court * * * asks that lawyers for the late Anna Nicole Smith be allowed to start collecting on $88 million awarded her by a Santa Ana judge from her husband’s estate, an attorney said.

The writ, filed with the court [on March 9, 2009], asks in the alternative that the heirs of Smith’s husband, Texas oil tycoon J. Howard Marshall, post a bond in that amount to assure that the money is there when when the legal battle concludes. * * *

However, David Margulies, who represents the heirs of J. Howard Marshall and his son, E. Pierce Marshall * * * denied the award by U.S. District Judge David Carter in 2002 is still valid.

Margulies said the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals threw out Carter’s award, finding that he overstepped the jurisdiction of the Probate Court.

Even though the U.S. Supreme Court in 2006 found that Smith had the right to pursue a claim on her husband’s estate, it did not uphold the $88 million award, Margulies said.