Six Year Anniversary of Houston Jury Upholding J. Howard Marshall II's Estate Plan

Marshall Family's Texas Defense Team Available to Discuss Houston Verdict and New Developments

Houston, Texas - Wednesday marks the six year anniversary of the original Anna Nicole Smith court case in which a Houston jury unanimously upheld J. Howard Marshall II's estate plan in Marshall, et al. v. McIntyre (the Estate of J. Howard Marshall II), et al. The Houston Probate Court ruled that Vickie Lynn Marshall (a/k/a Anna Nicole Smith) did not have an agreement with J. Howard Marshall II that would give her one-half of all his property. Furthermore, the Court also decreed that J. Howard Marshall II "did not intend to give and did not give to Anna Nicole Smith a gift or bequest from his estate or living trust either prior to or upon his death."

Rusty Hardin, Don Jackson, and Jeff Chambers were attorneys for the Marshall family in the original Houston Probate Court decision and are available to discuss the facts of the case and the legal implications of Anna Nicole Smith's recent passing.

The Houston Probate Court is the only court that held a jury trial in this case, and after five and a half months of exhaustive testimony and evidence, the Court ruled that E. Pierce Marshall was innocent of any improper behavior or tampering with J. Howard Marshall II's will or living trust. The Houston decision is considered the ruling of legal record with regards to the Marshall estate, and despite speculation and posturing after Smith's untimely death, the Marshall family's position is that this decision precludes any others.

"A jury agreed that Anna Nicole Smith's claims were unfounded and desperate," says Rusty Hardin attorney for defendant, E. Pierce Marshall. "It was clear that Marshall took every measure to leave his fortune and his legacy to his son, Pierce Marshall, and the jury agreed."

"Over the course of the relationship with Marshall, Smith received over $6.2 million in cash and other material possessions," says Don Jackson, defense attorney for the Marshalls. "This was a frivolous lawsuit and a desperate money grab the jury came to the correct decision by upholding Marshall's estate plan outlined in his will and living trust."

"The unfortunate passing of Smith caused a stir in the media over the potential inheritance from her marriage, but the fact remains that the Marshall estate was left to E. Pierce Marshall," says Jeff Chambers, defense attorney for E. Pierce Marshall. "Wild accusations of tampering and tearful outbursts in the courtroom did not sway the jury to ignore the facts of the case, and Smith's untimely passing does nothing to change the Houston ruling."

Rusty Hardin is founder of Rusty Hardin and Associates, P.C. in Houston, TX and represented various Marshall entities in the Houston Probate Court Case, Marshall, et al. v. McIntyre (the Estate of J. Howard Marshall II), et al.

Don Jackson is a partner in Ware, Jackson, Lee and Chambers, a Limited Liability Partnership in Houston, TX and represented the Pierce Marshall and his family in the Houston Probate Court Case, Marshall, et al. v. McIntyre (the Estate of J. Howard Marshall II), et al.

Jeff Chambers is also a partner in Ware, Jackson, Lee and Chambers, a Limited Liability Partnership in Houston, TX and a Board Certified Specialist in Personal Injury Trial Law - Texas Board of Legal Specialization. He represented the various trusts in the estate of the J. Howard Marshall II during the Houston Probate Court Case, Marshall, et al. v. McIntyre (the Estate of J. Howard Marshall II), et al.