Fallen former stripper and Playboy model, Anna Nicole Smith, had been battling more than prescription drug addiction before she died, at age 39, of medication overdose three years ago.

Before her death, Smith had been fighting in Texas and California courts for recognition of what she claimed was her late billionaire husband, J. Howard Marshall II’s promise to leave her half of his $1.6 billion estate.

In the latest development in the decades-long saga, the U.S. 9th Circuit Court of Appeals upheld a Texas jury’s decision that Marshall never intended to leave his fortune to Smith.

Smith met the then 89-year-old Marshall when she was a topless dancer and eventually married the oil magnate in 1994. Marshall died 14 months later, and left his estate under the control of his son and executor, E. Pierce Marshall. With an irrevocable trust under his control, Smith then contended that Pierce had coerced the elder Marshall into the decision.

In 2000, a bankruptcy court ruled in favor of Smith, stating that she was entitled to $450 million of Marshall’s assets. A federal district judge later reduced this award to $98 million.

This convoluted inheritance battle has outlived both Smith and E. Pierce Marshall, who died in 2006 from complications of an infection. Their heirs and lawyers, however, have kept up the fight.

E. Pierce Marshall’s widow, Elaine, is pleased with this recent court of appeals ruling, which appears to have vindicated her husband.

Kent L. Richland, lawyer for Smith’s executor and former partner Howard K. Stern, deemed the 9th Circuit ruling “a fairly startling extension of the law,” as quoted in the Los Angeles Times.

Acting on behalf of Smith’s three-year-old daughter and sole heir, Dannielynn Birkhead, Richland said the estate would pursue the matter further.

Prior to this report, the Brisbane Times also revealed that Smith’s life will be turned into an opera production that will be shown at the Royal Opera House in London — this as if Smith’s life needs to play out its drama in public even further.

Entitled “Anna Nicole,” it will reportedly be written by composer Mark Anthony Turnage, with the libretto by Richard Thomas, the co-creator of another controversial production, “Jerry Springer: The Opera,” based on the outspoken talk show host and his wild, shocking TV guests.

Slated to debut on February 17, 2011, the role of Anna will reportedly be played by Dutch soprano, Eva-Marie Westbrook. While details of the production have yet to be unveiled, many believe it would touch on a lot of the controversial aspects of Smith’s life.

Smith, whose real name was Vicky Lynn Smith, had a 20-year-old son, Daniel, who died of drug overdose just three days after Smith gave birth to Dannielynn Birkhead.

Art, indeed, imitates life.