As I previously noted, the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals recently ruled that oil tycoon and businessman, J. Howard Marshall II, never intended to leave any of his inheritance to his wife of only 14 months, Vickie Lynn Marshall (aka Anna Nicole Smith).  Some argue this is a ruling against her daughter Dannielynn (and her father Larry Birkhead), when the reality is it is a blessing in disguise. After over 15 years of litigation, this case has done little more than rack up hundreds and thousands of dollars in legal fees for Dannielynn. The Ninth Circuit’s ruling essentially upheld the original Texas probate decision from 2001. After a five and a half month jury trial, the Texas probate court ruled that J. Howard Marshall II provided for Anna Nicole during his life with gifts exceeding $6 million[1] and he never intended to make her his heir. While Howard K. Stern along with his team of lawyers and publicists continue to exploit Dannielynn in this case, these legal disputes are only adding to her troubles.  As the sole heir of her mother’s estate, further appeals merely make Dannielynn liable for a battle that should not even involve her.  Dannielynn inherited her only Read More …

Tragedy befalling prominent figures in the entertainment industry is nothing new, but the growing phenomenon of drug-related deaths among these people is unsettling.  Four that come to mind are Corey Haim, Brittany Murphy, Michael Jackson, and Anna Nicole Smith (”ANS”).  Millions have been spent in legal fees to bring forth explanations and possible closure to their untimely loss of life. Controversy has especially been swirling around Haim, Jackson, and ANS, who all shopped for doctors that would ply them with enough medication to kill a person many times over. Though the exact cause of Haim’s death is still undetermined, several unauthorized prescriptions in his name were found amongst blank prescription pads (which could have been stolen from doctor’s offices).  These blank pads are the equivalent of gold bricks to drug pushers.  One arrest involving a possible drug ring participant who supplied Haim with a powerful painkiller occurred March 17, but details about the incarceration are sparse.  Then, 2 weeks ago, the Los Angeles County coroner’s office subpoenaed medical records from 20 doctors scattered throughout Southern California to gauge prescription trails linked to Haim.  Attorney General Jerry Brown and his office are seeking answers too.  At an April 6th press conference, Read More …