The widow of actor Malcolm-Jamal Warner has filed a lawsuit seeking approximately $1.27 million from a family trust reportedly headed by her late husband's mother. Tenisha Warner initiated legal proceedings in Georgia's DeKalb County Superior Court on Monday, one year after the "Cosby Show" star died at age 54 from drowning while on vacation in Costa Rica.
Tenisha Warner stated that she has been trying to settle her husband's estate privately and fulfill his final wishes. She asserts that Malcolm-Jamal Warner intended to provide for their nine-year-old daughter, MacKenzie, and herself. According to Tenisha, her husband was close to finalizing a new estate plan before his death, intending to replace an outdated plan from 1996, created long before they met.
She explained that she has been struggling to care for their daughter as a single mother and sole provider, and felt compelled to take legal action to protect their rights before any potential statute of limitations expired. The Daily Mail has reportedly reached out to representatives for Pamela Warner, the actor's mother, for comment.
In a prenuptial agreement dated May 15, 2022, Malcolm-Jamal Warner reportedly consented to making Tenisha the sole beneficiary of a $1 million life insurance policy. However, Tenisha claims he did not purchase or maintain this policy. The lawsuit also cites unpaid expenses, including $16,000 in yearly tax-free payments that exceeded $50,000, and an agreement for Malcolm-Jamal Warner to place $30,500 into a Roth IRA in Tenisha's name. Additionally, she claims he agreed to a monthly payment of $5,000 for her work as his chief of staff and assistant, totaling around $195,000 in unpaid sums.
Tenisha stated that she believes the estate has not been funded and seeks assets from the family trust controlled by Pamela Warner. The filings in both Georgia and Los Angeles County Superior Court request the sum of $1,276,042.46, plus interest, attorneys' fees, and costs. The petition seeks an order for the conveyance of trust property, establishment of the payee, preservation of protective actions, determination of the omitted spouse's beneficial interest, and instructions for the trustee to preserve and account for assets.
Pamela Warner marked the one-year anniversary of her son's death with a statement on a memorial page, reflecting on a year of pain, growth, and unexpected life lessons. She mentioned discovering both cruelty and immense love from others, and urged loved ones to express their affection and resolve conflicts, stating, "We all have an expiration date."