The U.S. Supreme Court has backed the claims of former stripper Anna Nicole Smith, saying that Smith could seek money from her late husband's estate in federal court. The decision was unanimous.
Smith was married to oil magnate J. Howard Marshall II whose estate has been estimated to be worth as much as $1.6 billion. Marshall's son, E. Pierce Marshall, has been fighting to keep Smith away from his father's money.
In 1994, Smith was a 26-year-old topless dancer when she married Marshall, 89. Marshall died a year later and the fight for his fortune began.
A Texas court held that Smith was not entitled to any money from Marshall's estate after a five-month long trial. Smith then filed papers in a California federal court. The 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that federal courts lacked the jurisdiction to hear Smith's case. Today, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that the 9th Circuit was wrong in making that determination.
Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, writing for the court, said that Smith should have a chance to be heard in federal court.
Smith has yet to receive anything from Marshall's estate although during his lifetime, he gave her gifts worth $6.6 million including two homes, clothing and expensive jewelry.
The court's decision today does not guarantee Smith will receive any part of Marshall's estate. It does practically guarantee that the fight over his fortune will continue for the foreseeable future.
