Anna Nicole Smith's Daughter Set To Receive $49 Million Windfall
The late model Anna Nicole Smith's daughter Dannielynn Birkhead is set to become one of the richest six-year-olds around.
A California court ruled Wednesday that Smith's estate was entitled to some of the money amassed by Smith's late husband J. Howard Marshall, which was later passed on to his now late son, E. Pierce Marshall.
The Pierce's estate was ordered by the court to pay sanctions to Smith's estate over "massive discovery abuse" in his legal battle against his late stepmother.
"Pierce's bad faith conduct was too pervasive and too egregious to be ignored, despite the fact that he has since passed away," said U.S. District Judge David O. Carter in his ruling.
Marshall's estate allegedly used "delaying tactics" to not allow Smith and her lawyers to access legal documents. The documents were even sent to another lawyer based in Louisiana to divert them from Smith's legal team.
"It would promote disrespect for the authority of the federal courts to turn a blind eye to actions that so willfully and blatantly attempted to make a mockery of this justice system. Further, it would reward a party for win-at-all-costs tactics, to the deprivation of his opponent. Such behavior cannot be condoned," he continued.
No amount of damages has been stated as of yet, but estimates state that the Smith estate, and thus Birkhead, could receive up to $49 million.
Smith married J. Howard 13 months before his 1995 death. She had not been included in his will. E. Pierce Marshall died in 2006, and Smith died of a drug overdose the next year.
"This is a complete vindication of Anna Nicole's rights and a total condemnation of what was done to her," Smith estate lawyer Phil Boesch told Forbes.com on Wedneday. "We are confident that the amount Anna's estate and daughter Dannilynn will finally be awarded will be fair and substantial."
