Anna Nicole Smith's courtroom adversary E. Pierce Marshall died on Tuesday after developing an aggressive infection. He was 67. The 38-year-old former model married billionaire J. Howard Marshall in 1994 when she was aged 26 and he was 89. His 1995 death triggered a decade-long legal battle between Smith and her stepson Pierce Marshall over the late oil tycoon's estate.

Only last month, the US Supreme Court awarded Anna Nicole Smith the right to continue her legal battle in pursuit of her late husband's fortune. Pierce Marshall disputed Smith's claims her husband had intended to bequeath half his estate to her, insisting the $6 million worth of gifts she accumulated during the 14-month marriage was all she was entitled too.

A statement from Pierce Marshall's family reads: "The family would politely request that their privacy be respected during this extremely difficult time as they grapple with this devastating loss. Mr. Marshall leaves behind a legacy of being, first and foremost, a remarkable husband, father and grandfather, a successful business visionary and a man of unrivalled perseverance and principle."

(This news article provided by World Entertainment News Network)