Newly revealed court documents from Real Housewives of Salt Lake City star Mary Cosby’s $6.3 million legal battle over her church’s finances have shed fresh light on the television personality’s long-running estrangement from her family.
Mary, 52, her husband, Robert Cosby Sr., 72, and their church, Faith Temple Pentecostal Church, sued Annie L. Johnson, Shawn Turner and United Security Financial, Inc. (USF) in September 2024. The plaintiffs accused the defendants of misusing church funds.
According to The Salt Lake Tribune, the Cosbys allege that two church executives—including United Security Financial, a for-profit company they say is owned by the church—obtained millions of dollars in loans for personal use.
The defendants filed a Motion to Dismiss on December 17, 2024. About a month later, the Bravo star submitted a Memorandum in Opposition to the motion.
In the filing, obtained exclusively by DailyMail.com, Mary referenced a 27-year legal dispute involving her estranged relatives. The family conflict has unfolded largely out of the public eye while the events surrounding it have been discussed on RHOSLC.
The dispute began in 1997, after Mary’s grandmother died of heart failure. Mary’s estranged mother, Rosalind Cazares, and her siblings Ernest Walton, Pamela Jean Cosby, Deborah Brainich, Demetrius Cosby and Samuel Cosby became embroiled in a battle over their mother’s estate.
RHOSLC star Mary Cosby is involved in a contentious $6.3 million lawsuit against executives connected to Faith Temple Pentecostal Church
Mary and her husband Robert Cosby Sr. alleged in their September 2024 lawsuit that two church executives diverted millions of dollars in loans for personal use
The Bravo star’s latest court filings contain new details about her estranged family, including her father Mark Cazares and mother Rosalind Cazares, pictured in 2022
RHOSLC viewers know that Rosemary Cosby was Mary’s late grandmother. Rosemary had previously been married to Robert Cosby, who is now Mary’s husband.
The newly surfaced filings describe a family that was “torn apart” by disagreements over Rosemary’s will and the division of her multimillion-dollar estate.
In a letter submitted to the court in January 2022, Pamela asked a judge to help resolve the dispute between her and her siblings.
“We have all been separated for over 20 years soon after our mother passed on January 4, 1997,” she wrote.
“Judge, I desperately want to get my whole family back together again.”
She added: “Judge Lawrence, if we can find out the truth, our family can start to heal, to forgive, and to love each other once again.”
In a February 2021 letter, Ernest Walton told the judge that Mary was a star on The Real Housewives of Salt Lake City. He referenced an episode in which she said Rosemary had left her everything because, according to the will, her grandmother wanted Mary to have what she had lacked while growing up.
Ernest concluded by asking the court for a copy of the document: “We would like to see the will.”
Mary inherited her grandmother’s wealth, which was later passed to Robert Cosby Sr. after Rosemary—who had previously been married to Robert—died in 1997
Mary previously said on RHOSLC that her grandmother left her an empire that included “homes, churches, daycares, a mortgage company and restaurants”
During the decades-long court dispute, Mary’s relatives said they had “never” received a copy of the will and questioned whether Robert had destroyed it
In another letter, filed in October 2022, Ernest again sought answers about the will. He said he believed his “civil rights were violated” because of alleged negligence by several people, including Robert and Mary Cosby and Lois Johnson.
Ernest also claimed that Lois Johnson had been attempting to take control of United Security, the mortgage company at the center of the current legal dispute involving the Bravo personality.
He said Pamela had been told in 2021 that the court case had been closed, then ended his letter by asking: “Where is the justice for me and my family?”
Speaking to DailyMail.com on January 21, Ernest said his family had “never seen the will” and alleged that Robert Cosby and Lois Johnson had destroyed it.
“They took everything from us. We didn’t get nothing,” he said.
Despite his family’s estrangement from Mary since his mother’s death—and despite seeing her display her wealth on television—Ernest said he does not blame her.
“I don’t blame her. I blame Robert Cosby because he’s the one that got everything and stole everything from us.”
Mary and her son Robert Cosby Jr. shared an emotional conversation in a November episode, when he disclosed that he had been using several drugs since the age of 16
Robert Cosby Jr. also became emotional as he discussed experiencing suicidal thoughts
Ernest appeared to support Mary’s current case against the church executives, describing Lois Johnson as “the biggest crook” and alleging that she falsely claimed to own United Security.
Asked whether he was still pursuing the matter or hoped to obtain the will, Ernest told DailyMail.com: “Well, I believe that fight’s over with. Everybody moved on with their life.”
DailyMail.com has contacted attorneys for Robert Cosby Sr., Mary Cosby and Lois Johnson for comment.
In their December 17, 2024 filing, the defendants in Mary’s embezzlement lawsuit rejected the plaintiffs’ assertion that Faith Temple owns United Security Financial, calling it a “wildly false statement.”
“The fact that Johnson was and is the sole owner of USF was long-ago resolved in legal proceedings related to the estate of Rosemary Cosby filed more than twenty-five years ago, on February 11, 1997,” they wrote.
The defendants also argued that records in the Cosby estate case showed the statute of limitations on any claim to ownership of USF had expired and that such a claim was barred by res judicata.
In a January 16 opposition to the Motion to Dismiss, also obtained exclusively by DailyMail.com, Mary and Robert Cosby disputed that argument.
“Defendants’ claim that Faith Temple’s claim for ownership of USF is somehow precluded is without support,” they stated.
They further argued that “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.”
Among the exhibits attached to the Cosbys’ opposition was a 2006 report by a special master. The report detailed the assets Robert had received from Rosemary Cosby’s estate.
The report stated that United Security Financial was operated by Lois Johnson and that “the minutes of the annual stockholder meetings indicate that Lois Johnson is the only stockholder.”
However, the evidence was described as “highly conflicting.” Because Lois Johnson and United Security Financial were not parties to that litigation, the report said they could not be bound by its findings.
The special master appointed by the judge added: “It is true that her testimony is highly suspect.”
Other assets listed in the report as part of Rosemary Cosby’s estate and passed to Robert included a 14K gold ruby and diamond ring, a 14K yellow gold Boston link chain, an 18K gold ruby and diamond cross, a pearl necklace with a diamond clasp, an Omega diamond watch, a full-length mink coat, a mink jacket and stole, and a fox jacket and throw.
When Mary joined RHOSLC during its first season, she said her grandmother had left her an empire that included “homes, churches, daycares, a mortgage company and restaurants.”
Mary and her husband also own several businesses, including a successful printing company that produces billboards and shopping bags.
A preview for the RHOSLC season five reunion shows Mary discussing her son Robert, who previously revealed his drug addiction
The three-part RHOSLC season five reunion begins January 22 at 8/7c on Bravo
Robert Cosby was absent throughout the fifth season of RHOSLC.
During an October appearance on Watch What Happens Live, Mary told host Andy Cohen that her husband was holding a grudge against the show’s producers, but not against Cohen personally.
“He’s good. He’s a man and they hold grudges,” she said. “But once he gets over his grudge, he’ll be better and he’ll probably show his face.”
Although Robert was missing from the series, Mary’s 21-year-old son, Robert Cosby Jr., appeared several times and discussed his struggles with drug abuse.
During a November episode, Mary and her son had an emotional conversation in which he revealed that he had used several drugs, including cocaine and Xanax, since he was 16.
He also spoke about experiencing suicidal thoughts during the difficult conversation, prompting an emotional response from fans, including superstar Rihanna.
A reunion preview shows Mary offering an update on her son, leaving members of the cast in tears.
The three-part RHOSLC season five reunion premieres January 22 at 8/7c on Bravo.
