Bahamas Journal: Anna Nicole $100k Showdown; May 28 Deadline Looms For GBT, S.C. Developer; Will Ford Shelley Daddy in Law Put Up Cash Bond, Or Drop Horizons’ Lawsuit?
Ben Thompson Ordered To Pay To Pursue Lawsuit In Ongoing Anna Nicole Saga
By Quincy Parker, Bahamas Journal
G. Ben Thompson, the South Carolina real estate mogul and erstwhile lover of the late Anna Nicole Smith, has been slapped with a court order to pony up $100,000 as security for costs in the Supreme Court battle for ownership of the mansion known as ‘Horizons.’
He has until May 28 to pay the money, in cash, into the Supreme Court or his lawsuit is in jeopardy. Mr. Thompson had sued Ms. Smith over ownership of the house, and his lawsuit is on hold and can proceed no further until he has put up the $100,000 cash as security.
The courts require Mr. Thompson to put up the money because he is a resident outside the jurisdiction, and because he has no assets in the jurisdiction. Therefore, if he loses his lawsuit and is ordered to pay costs, the court needs some way to ensure that he can pay them.
Horizons is the Eastern Road waterfront mansion Ms. Smith shared with her lawyer/lover Howard K. Stern and her baby, Dannielynn Hope, after the child was born in September 2006.
She lived there as a permanent resident of The Bahamas with Mr. Stern and Dannielynn until her death in Florida in February.
Who owns the house has been the subject of a court battle, even involving police at times, as charges of theft were levied and denied.
Mr. Thompson sued Ms. Smith over ownership of the house in late 2006, insisting that he had put up the $950,000 to buy the house and signed it over to Ms. Smith with the understanding that she would take out a mortgage to pay him back.
Once the house was signed over to her, Ms. Smith insisted that she owned the house and that the money had been a gift from Mr. Thompson, with no “conditions precedent,” as the lawyers call the supposed prearrangement about the mortgage.
The two sides had a spectacular falling out, with Mr. Thompson and his son-in-law Ford Shelley Jr. holding a press conference in The Bahamas denying that they’d given Ms. Smith the money as a gift, and Ms. Smith countering by suing for her own declaration of ownership.
As a result of the legal battle back and forth, with lawsuit on top of lawsuit and lawyers outflanking and outmaneuvering each other, and one side accusing the other of breaking and entering and theft, Supreme Court Senior Justice Anita Allen consolidated the lawsuits.
On May 7, she agreed to an application filed by lawyers for Ms. Smith’s estate on February 20 asking for an order that Mr. Thompson put up security for costs.
Accordingly, Justice Allen ordered that Mr. Thompson provide security for costs in the amount of $100,000 and pay the money in cash before May 28.
He is to give the lawyers for the Smith estate notice that he has paid the security within seven days of having done so, and his lawsuit is stayed pending payment of the monies.
If Mr. Thompson doesn’t pay the money, he may well lose his lawsuit.
May 25th, 2007 at 8:01 am
Hi Art,
What you forgot to mention is that if ANS Estate loses the case, her Estate will be liable to pay GBT’s costs. She has assets in the Bahamas wich can be seized by the Bahamian Court to satisfy GBT’s legal costs.
May 25th, 2007 at 9:41 am
OH WHAT A TANGLED WEB WE WEAVE, WHEN FIRST WE PROPOSE TO DECEIVE.
ALL INVOLVED PARTIES HAD DECEIT ON THEIR MINDS WHEN THIS TRANSACTION TOOK PLACE. IT IS POETIC JUSTICE THAT THESE DECEPTIONS WILL FINALLY SEE THE LIGHT OF DAY. HER LORDSHIP, THE JUDGE, HAS A LOT OF COMPLICATED SORTING OUT TO DO AND IT WILL BE INTERESTING TO SEE WHERE THE CHIPS EVENTUALLY FALL!
May 25th, 2007 at 1:06 pm
Hi Art, Tell us more about the conviction for drugs by
Mr. Thompson. He and Ford Shelly look very shifty. Will
anything ever be done about Ford Shelly breaking into the house and stealing computer, paintings and other things from
Anna? Thanks, Anne
May 25th, 2007 at 1:55 pm
Yes, Art, please tell us more about GBT and FS and how they made their millions. What were the charges that sent GBT to jail? How long has FS been married to his current wife (GBT’s daughter)and what were the accusations made against FS (made by a buisness associate)? I heard that FS and his wife were heavy drug users - do you know if there is any truth to this? I feel GBT and FS came upon their wealth by illegal activities. Since FS was one of the persons who broke into the house (Horizens) and stole ANS’s and HKS’s property, why hasn’t he been arrested? Maybe the Bahamian authorities are waiting until he steps foot in the Bahamas - then Viola!
May 25th, 2007 at 2:38 pm
Geez, what will Pro Pinder do? If GBT loses the case Pinder won’t be the darling of the CourtTV ladies…such a shame.
Of course, I’m being facetious. I can’t stand Pro Pinder or the CourtTV ladies.
May 25th, 2007 at 2:39 pm
Art-
Can you please tell me the staus of the inquest into Daniel Smith’s death. Thank you
May 25th, 2007 at 4:14 pm
Anne-
I believe L Lin Wood is going to b-slap Shelly,GBT jr et al after he gets done taking a BITE out of that pickle-brained O’Quinn’s wallet…heeheehee…I for one , can’t wait!!
Not out of the realm of possibility, that if Anna’s estate doesn’t win the Horizons house outrightin court, then plan B is to get it as as part of a settlement for the theft of the babies things and damamge they did to Anna’s estate through desiminating her image in a derogatory manner…
Dannielynn Hope will prevail!!!
rename the house “Hope House” !
May 25th, 2007 at 4:19 pm
and we have the 165,000 dollar judgement in north or south carolin,against ford shelly
May 25th, 2007 at 7:29 pm
Roberta Cordair
Where are you getting your facts? I have not been able to validate your post as truth.
May 26th, 2007 at 12:19 am
GBT has to post a bond because the Bahas do not want to be ripped off. After-all virgie skipped town leaving a huge legal bill. Good thinking getting them to pay FIRST.
May 26th, 2007 at 6:29 am
maryst:
British and consequently Bahamian Law differs from United States Legal proceedings. I have been involved in similar cases. In fact I have experienced the identical circumstances.
May 26th, 2007 at 8:48 am
maryst
Here is the link to Wikipedia which should satisfy your curiosity. Thanks for inquiring.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Security_for_costs
May 26th, 2007 at 2:32 pm
i hope mr thompson gets his house back and not let howard k stern jip him out of it. if the bahamas courts let hks do this this. i personally think hks is the lowest of the low.
May 27th, 2007 at 2:28 am
“ONLY IN AMERICA”….ANS unfortunately was a very very silly lady who took drugs and ?”possibly?” killed both herself and her son. Many stupid people helped her! My hope is that ANS does not receive any monies from the Marshall estate and that Larry raises his daughter in the CORRECT WAY!!!
May 27th, 2007 at 4:39 pm
hay i was wondering what is going on with the inquest into danniel death and about anna nicole horzing home.Did g b thomson come through with his bond or did Anna estate win the suit. Also how is the case againt john O quin comming along for slandering howard name with l lyn woods? i can’t wait to see how this comes out cause sure does seem like that john o quin has sort of disappered since finding out that lyn woods was in howard legal team. patricia
May 28th, 2007 at 12:11 am
Thanks Art,
I will follow you comments with interest. {The Bahamian law seems to be on a parallel with the way Aruba handled the Natalie Holloway case}. Neither ANS nor HK$ paid a penny for Horizons, he is still “squatting” in the house….lets hear about signed contracts etc. Hair “tests” should be done on ANS/HK$/Daniel and all others to ascertain which drugs are present and in what quantities…{It’s not Rocket Science}….follow the drug enabler/provider, then charge those involved. Cheers from “Down-Under”….Jill
May 28th, 2007 at 12:49 pm
Patricia:
The INQUEST into Daniels’ death is set to begin on July 17, according to CourtTV news this past week.
May 28th, 2007 at 12:50 pm
I was wondering if they started the inquest into Daniel,s death,I haven,t heard anything about it yet and also if u know if Ben Thompson put up the money to the courts yet so he can fight the lawsuit for the Horizons house.I personally believe that the house does belong to Anna Nicole and therefore if tht is true then I beleive tht all the money and assets that Anna may have should go to Dannielynn and only her not Virgie Arthur and i,m very glad that Howard and Larry can come together for Dannielynn,s sake and do wht is best for her instead of arguing,because it isn,t good for Dannielynn to have everybody always fighting.
May 28th, 2007 at 5:26 pm
Hey Art, It’s the 28th of May did GBT ever pay up? You need to update for us nobody else will!!!
May 28th, 2007 at 5:28 pm
Does anyone know if GBT paid the $100,000 security for costs today?
May 28th, 2007 at 6:02 pm
It tht 28 Was bond posted ?
May 28th, 2007 at 6:21 pm
Why was it not reported that Stern had to post the same bond? I find your articles very biased toward Stern with many half-truths.
Stern has some BIG lawsuits coming. I suggest he find the money and jewelery which has disappeared.
May 28th, 2007 at 11:18 pm
Am curious if the $100,000 was put up??
May 29th, 2007 at 8:27 am
Liz:
Stern is not obliged to post a Bond for costs as he is not the Defendant. The Estate of the late ANS is the Defendant and thus not required to post security for costs. However, if GBT prevails, the Court may then award certain costs and legal fees to GBT. In this event, should the ANS Estate refuse to pay GBT’s legal costs, GBT could proceed to prosecute his claim by petitioning the Court to sieze certain of the Bahamian assets presently held in the Estate of ANS to satisfy GBT’s claim for costs.
May 29th, 2007 at 8:47 am
Liz–
laughing at you flying around on your broom here half-cocked..it is the PLANTIFF that has to put up security upfront, not the defendant…and the jewelry is in a safety deposit box, the money in the bank..Why are you spreading rumours it is missing? PROOF?
Get your facts straight…
Stern has big lawsuits coming? like what?
I know Anna’s estate may have to contend with the Trimspa suit as a defendant…and the Marshall suit as a plantiff, if won, would increase the value of the estate for Dannielynn…
May 29th, 2007 at 9:00 am
#12, this catches my interest.
The weaker the probability of the plantiff prevailing, the higher the security order
June 3rd, 2007 at 6:46 am
I Love you girls
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