OUTRAGEOUS PART SIX: COURTESAN
FBI raids, federal court & hitting the jackpot
OMFG THIS MIGHT BE MY FAVORITE CHAPTER OF THEM ALL!
SEPTEMBER 1999
A cascade of images. Anna arrives to court. Day after day. The Los Angeles Federal Bankruptcy Court has never been more fashionable. Anna pans her smile across the sea of photographers. Every appearance is a photo shoot.
She wears elegant Chanel suits. Timeless Ralph Lauren blazers. Navy and camel. Tortoiseshell and pinstripes.
She accessorizes boldly with butterfly clips in her hair, gold rings on her fingers, and pearls around her neck. The beauty is the best – orange lipstick, red nails, pin curls.
Like all good celebrities, Anna knows dressing for court is a unique sartorial opportunity. If context shapes fashion, dressing for trial is its own beast.
Anna’s courtroom style became iconic. She followed in the footsteps of the Golden Era stars who knew image was everything, especially in front of a jury, but also walked those litigious steps long before some of our other favorite plaintiffs, defendants, and witnesses.
Naomi Campbell testified at the Hague in a fully knit Alaïa ensemble during a 2010 blood diamond trial. However, she received an order of special protection that prohibited her being photographed coming or going from court.
Winona Ryder elevated her fashion plate status on the steps of the Beverly Hills courthouse during her 2002 shoplifting trial. A Washington Post reporter remarked at the time, “She may be a shoplifter, but she has impeccable taste.”
Fashion fiends were thrilled to see her in a few memorable Marc Jacobs pieces, including a black sweater tress with a school-girl skirt and pink trim. Not just because they love Marc Jacobs, but that it was among the brands she was caught stealing. After she was found guilty, she went on to star in a Marc Jacobs campaign. The L.A. Times wrote, “Court room chic pays off for Ryder.”
Lindsay Lohan’s courtroom style wasn’t consistent, but it was undoubtably impactful. The vision was mostly great but enjoyably off-kilter. A long-sleeve white mini dress paired with large, black sunglasses was unexpected for court. It felt like a dress a hot girl would wear to a club, with sunglasses that girl would add once her eyes showed how high she was.
The pious white thing makes sense, but the cuts were wacky for someone on trial. She wore another white dress with wrapped layers that was something a Kundalini yoga instructor or bohemian beach bride in Tulum would wear. There was a blue Givenchy suit. A 50’s polka dot housewife frock. Beige cashmere. Cream-colored Chanel slacks with a low-cut blouse.
But Lindsay’s defendant style made an impact beyond the paparazzi photos. Her ankle monitor inspired Karl Lagerfeld to make a line of ankle purses for Chanel. House arrest purses, really. Suddenly, guilty was glam.
Back to Anna. She came first. She’s arriving to court. Daniel’s at her side in a smart little suit. He’s almost 10 and stands awkwardly as his mom blows kisses to the camera.
With the bang of a gavel, we’re finally in the courtroom. The judge announces the case, “Marshall vs Marshall in the CA Bankruptcy Court.”
Pierce Marshall watches with pleasure as his attorney give an opening statement.
“The fact of the matter is, we have no business trying Marshall vs Marshall in CA when it’s a matter of probate in the state of Texas,” Pierce’s lawyer says. “Probate precedent reflects that estate cases having to do with Texans will be decided in Texas. This court lacks jurisdiction to decide on the matter.”
Anna listens to her own lawyer, Ron Rale, just as amorously.
“The reason we’re in a bankruptcy court in CA is that my client was the victim of fraud. Without Pierce Marshall’s tortious interference in the management of his father’s estate, my client would not have been forced to file for bankruptcy in the state of CA. We believe Pierce Marshall lied to and defrauded his father to prevent both his brother J. Howard Marshall III and Anna from getting what they deserve,” Rale says.
We cut to J. Howard Marshall III on the stand.
“My brother knew my father and I settled our grievances long before his passing, but Pierce reverted the will back to an older state while my dad was in the hospital. In an effort to exclude me, and my stepmother, from the will,” J. Howard Marshall III says.
“How would you describe the relationship between your father and Ms. Smith?” Rale asks.
“My father was clearly very attracted to Vicki. He raised Daniel like his youngest son and it was very important to him they were both taken care of, always. When he mentioned her, he wouldn’t say or Anna or Vicki, just ‘the light of my life.’”
J. Howard Marshall III and Anna lock eyes and smile. Family? No. Allies? Yes.
OUTRAGEOUS
JUNE 2000
Daniel holds a kid’s cam-corder and records Anna doing a bad British accent.
Anna babbles about tea and crumpets until she spots a man outside the window, watching them.
“Go to your room and ignore Mark if you see him, ok?” she tells Daniel, calmly. “I love you.”
Daniel pretends to go to his room but lingers in the hallway to listen. To watch over his mom.
Anna locks the front door, but this man, Mark, punches through the glass window and unlocks it.
Burly like a bodybuilder, Mark barrels into the house with a knife in his hand.
“Why do you keep showing up here?” Anna wails. “I’m your friend! I told you we’re friends!”
“I’m not letting you end this,” Mark threatens.
Kimmy, Anna’s purple-haired, live-in assistant, pulls Daniel into her room.
“What’s Mark’s problem?” Daniel asks Kimmy, genuinely curious. Kimmy hugs him as she calls 911.
The next door neighbor hears the disturbance from his backyard. This is Rene Navarro, a middle-aged Latino dad with a cast on one arm. He runs over and calmly asks Mark to leave Anna alone. Mark punches Rene to the ground and kicks the shit out of him. He breaks the cast open as Anna shrieks.
Paralyzed by fear, Anna freezes.
Back in the other room, Kimmy holds Daniel back from running out there to be with his mom.
Finally, cops arrive and arrest Mark. Anna makes eye contact with him and sobs. Despite it all, she hates seeing him handcuffs.
Over pancakes the next morning, Anna gives Daniel and Kimmy a pep-talk as they sit at the breakfast table together.
“We’re gonna be ok, aren’t we?” Anna asks Daniel. “We can shake off last night, right?”
When Daniel doesn’t answer right away, Anna dances in place until he nods in agreement. She thinks she’s undulating the bad vibes away.
“Everything’s ok, jellybean,” Anna swears as she shimmies.
Daniel fakes a smile. He knows his mom needs him to be ok.
Heartfelt emotional processing? Not in this house, honey! Push through!
JULY 2000
Anna and Daniel play Nintendo back in the living room.
They reach for Ruffles and dip in unison but hear a sturdy knock at the door.
“Kimmy’s not home to answer the door is she?” Anna asks.
Anna acts lazy but she’s also scared. She likes other people to answer the door.
Whoever is out there keeps banging. Keeps banging.
Daniel rolls himself over the couch and unlocks the door. He discovers two big men in suits on their doorstep, flashing badges.
“Is your mom home?” one asks.
Anna rises. Anna blesses herself with the sign of the cross as she chews.
“Who are you?” Anna asks.
“We’re with the Federal Bureau of Investigation,” a detective says.
“The FBI,” the other clarifies. “We need to ask you a few questions.”
“How am I supposed to know you two aren’t some super fans dressed up like the Men in Black?,” Anna worries. “Or stalkers? robbers?”
“Please let us inside, where we can speak alone,” a detective says, eyes on Daniel.
“Here’s my badge and ID number,” the other detective says, giving her his ID card. Anna hardly looks at it. Some security measure.
“How can I help you?” Anna asks.
She gestures to Daniel that it’s okay for him to leave.
Daniel hides out in the hallway, eavesdropping like usual. In case she needs him.
“Are you aware of a murder-for-hire plot against Pierce Marshall?” a detective asks.
“We have word you’ve hired a hitman to kill your stepson Pierce Marshall,” the other says.
Anna sits silent in shock. Finally, she nods her head “no.”
“Are you part of a plot to kill your stepson Pierce Marshall?” a detective asks.
“No!” Anna wails. “What are you talking about?
“You’re not aware of any attempt to murder Pierce Marshall? Past or present?” a detective asks.
“No!” Anna wails.