Discovery Abuse Leads To Paying Sanctions

Anna Nicole Smith’s daughter, Dannielynn has recently been granteda monetary award as high as $49 million dollars against J. Pierce Marshall’sestate. A California federal judge ruled against the estate of J. PierceMarshall and ordered the estate to pay sanctions because of “massive discoveryabuse” in the Koch Industries heir’s legal dispute with Anna Nicole Smith. Thecourt explained that Marshall’s son Pierce, caused undue delay by not providingimportant documents to Smith’s lawyers. This legal battle has dragged on forover ten years, and has now halted any counterclaim. The dispute stemmed fromSmith’s action to collect from her deceased husband, J. Howard Marshall II’s estate.Marshall was a 16% partner in Koch Industries, an industry worth billions whenMarshall passed. 

See Daniel Fisher, Anna Nicole Smith’s Daughter Wins Sanctions From Marshall Estate, Forbes, May 30, 2013.

Special thanks to Brian Cohan (Attorney at Law, Law Offices of Brian J. Cohan, P.C.) for bringing this article to my attention.