A new court document revealed more details into the past legal battle over the estate of Mary Cosby’s late grandmother Rosemary – which led to Mary’s estrangement from her family.
Last September, Mary, her husband Robert, and their church, Faith Temple, sued United Security Financial, Inc. (USF) – a for-profit business the church owned – as well as Shawn Turner and Annie L. Johnson for alleged embezzlement. Shawn and Annie were executives who apparently ran the church’s finances.
After Rosemary died in 1997, the money was passed to Mary’s now-husband, Robert, who was married to her grandmother. The Real Housewives of Salt Lake City star later married him. On the show, Mary explained that her grandmother’s empire included “homes, churches, daycares, a mortgage company and restaurants.” Unfortunately, the family’s dispute over Rosemary’s estate led to Mary’s estrangement from the family, including her mom.
Per The Salt Lake Tribune, the recent lawsuit accused Annie, Shawn, and USF of taking millions of dollars from the church and using it for personal purposes. On December 17, the sued parties filed a motion for a dismissal.
Now, a month later, Mary and Robert opposed the motion by filing a Memorandum In Opposition.
In the new filing, according to Daily Mail, Mary referred to a past court battle – brewing secretly for 27 years – concerning her estranged family.
In 1997, Mary’s grandma, Rosemary, died from heart failure. Afterward, Mary’s mom, Rosalind Cazares, and her siblings, Pamela Jean Cosby, Ernest Walton, Deborah Brainich, Samuel Cosby, and Demetrius Cosby, were involved in a dispute over the estate.
According to the filings, family members shared that they’ve all been “torn apart” over the will. In January of 2022, Pamela wrote a letter asking the court to help settle the siblings’ dispute.
“We have all been separated for over 20 years soon after our mother passed on January 4, 1997,” she said at the time. “Judge, I desperately want to get my whole family back together again … If we can find out the truth, our family can start to heal, to forgive, and to love each other once again.”
In 2021, Ernest wrote a letter telling the court that Mary stated on RHOSLC that “Rosemary Cosby left everything to her because she said in the will my mother Dr. Rosemary Cosby wanted her to have what she Mary Cosby didn’t have growing up … We would like to see the will.”
In another letter, Ernest – who wanted answers concerning the will – told the court that he felt like his “civil rights were violated,” which he thinks is due to “[the] negligence” of Mary, Robert, Johnson, and others.
According to the letter, he believes Johnson was attempting “to steal the mortgage company” United Security.
“I ask, where is the justice for me and my family?” he said. On January 21, after Daily Mail asked for a comment, Ernest said his family “never saw the will,” and claimed Johnson and Robert “destroyed the will.”
“They took everything from us. We didn’t get nothing,” he added. “I don’t blame [Mary]. I blame Robert Cosby because he’s the one that got everything and stole everything from us.”
He also seemed to side with Mary over her battle with the church executives, accusing Johnson of being “the biggest crook … she lied and said she owned United Security.”
As for whether he’s still looking for justice and a copy of Rosemary’s will, Ernest said, “Well, I believe that fight’s over with. Everybody moved on with their life.”
In Mary and Robert’s recent filing, they reacted to the defendants’ claim that Johnson owns USF.
“Defendants’ claim that Faith Temple’s claim for ownership of USF is somehow precluded is without support,” said the plaintiffs. “In addition, Ms. Johnson was acting as an agent of Faith Temple with respect to any bidding on a claimed ownership interest of the Estate in USF.”
They also included a 2006 document from a special master, who expressed that Johnson’s testimony regarding the ownership claim was “highly suspect.”
According to the document, after Rosemary’s death, Robert inherited a 14K gold Boston link chain, a 14K gold ruby and diamond ring, an 18K gold ruby and diamond cross, an Omega diamond watch, a pearl necklace with a diamond clasp, a fox jacket and throw a full-length mink coat, and a mink jacket and throw.
