Supreme Court rejects attempt to accelerate collection of Anne Nicole Smith’s judgment

Earlier on this blog, I reported that Anne Nicole Smith’s estate wanted to begin collection of the judgment against her husband’s estate.  To get authority to begin this process, writ had been filed before the United States Supreme Court.

The hearing was on March 13, 2009 and here are the results according to Tony Mauro, Justice Kennedy Turns Down Plea by Anna Nicole Smith’s Estate, Legal Times, March 16, 2009:

Supreme Court Justice Anthony Kennedy late Friday rejected efforts by lawyer Howard K. Stern, executor for the estate of the late actress-model Anna Nicole Smith, to expedite the $88 million inheritance from the estate of her late husband, billionaire J. Howard Marshall. Stern was seeking the money for her surviving daughter, Danielynn.

* * * Kennedy’s action returns the case to the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, where numerous unresolved disputes over the award are still pending. * * *

Stern, who was once also Smith’s boyfriend, had petitioned the high court to lift a stay that was holding up payment of the judgment pending the 9th Circuit’s decision. Stern claimed that if the stay continued, Pierce Marshall’s estate would dissipate its assets.

Special thanks to David S. Luber (Attorney at law, Florida Probate Attorney Wills and Estates Law Firm) for bringing this article to my attention.