The first wife of an ice cream mogul has knocked down her love rival after winning a bitter inheritance battle with his second wife over her late former husband’s £4.75 million fortune.
Josephine Colicci said she hoped her court victory over a stake in the family business would inspire other women who may have to resort to legal action to fight what they believe is rightfully theirs.
Not only did the 59-year-old win a High Court battle to ensure that £1.6million of shares in the family business would go to her children – but the court this week ordered her rival to pay her £300,000 legal costs. pay.
“I knew from day one we would win because we had a cast iron business,” Ms Colicci told MailOnline in an exclusive interview.
“That woman is just out to get as much as she can. I don’t feel sorry for her. She has just been trying to get as much money as she can, but it has backfired.
“I knew from day one we would win because we had a cast iron case,” Ms Colicci told MailOnline in an exclusive interview
Russian-born Nora Grinberg (pictured outside the Supreme Court), the second wife of a multimillionaire ice cream magnate, was ordered to pay a court bill of £313,000 after losing inheritance battle with his first husband
“I hope the court ruling gives other first wives the courage not to give up in the face of a disagreement.”
The bitter dispute began earlier this year when Ms Colicci sued the wife of her ex-husband Ernesto ‘Ernie’ Colicci, who died of Covid in 2021 aged 66.
He had left his £4.5 million fortune to Russian-born Nora Grinberg whom he married in 2014 after the end of his nearly 30-year marriage.
Ms Grinberg, who is in her 50s, also retained her husband’s 40 per cent stake in the £1.6 million Colicci ice cream business.
Ms Collicci, from Esher, Surrey, sued her ex-husband’s widow, arguing that his stake should stay with his first family and go to his son Rob and daughter Rosanna.
The family submitted documents to the Supreme Court showing that the 40% stake in the family business was set out in a 2016 agreement they drafted together.
Lawyers for Ms Grinberg had tried to argue that a 2017 shareholder agreement “wiped out” the earlier legal deed.
They said the £1.6 million in shares was part of her husband’s estate and should go to his widow in accordance with his will.
The magnate’s first wife, Josephine Colicci (pictured with their son Robert), won inheritance feud with Nora Grinberg in May
Ernesto ‘Ernie’ Colicci (pictured) died of coronavirus in 2021 at age 66, nearly 40 years after co-founding a London-based ice cream empire with his first wife, Josephine Colicci
Mrs. Grinberg did not dispute that the shares should remain with the family, but wanted the family to pay a fair price to keep them.
In May, a Supreme Court judge ruled that the 2016 Colicci family agreement trumps any other document and ruled that Ernie’s best interest should remain with the family.
Then, in another blow to Ms Grinberg, judge Mark Anderson this week ordered KC Grinberg to pay £300,000 in legal fees.
It means Mrs Grinberg has lost almost £2 million. During the court hearing, Ms Colicci was accused of using a derogatory term to describe her rival by calling her a ‘Russian maid’.
‘Let’s just say it doesn’t go any further. She made no attempt to befriend our family. She was dismissive of them and was not a nice stepmother.
“I don’t think I’ve heard the last of her as there may be further court involvement.
Ms Colicci said she and her children were celebrating the court’s latest victory, which left Grinberg with a six-figure bill that included drinks and a meal.
“I knew all along that we would win. She was just greedy and it has backfired on her.
“It’s not that she doesn’t have money from Ernie, she just wanted it all.”
Josephine Colicci, pictured with her ex-husband, sued Mr Collici’s widow over his inheritance
Josephine played an integral role in building the business that included a fleet of vintage ice cream trucks, and retains a 40 percent stake
Ms Colicci revealed that her rival was unaware of the 2016 agreement she signed with her husband two years after he married Ms Grinberg.
She said, “There were lawyers and attorneys and six people in the room when the agreement was drawn up.
“I knew it was solid,” Mrs. Colicci said.
“Ernie and I agreed that if either of us died, the shares would go to the children. When I leave, all of the company’s stock will pass to the children.
“Even though Ernie and I were divorced, we got on much better as friends.
“He used to come to my house and tell me that he hadn’t told his wife about the 2016 deal.
“I just don’t think he had the courage to tell her what we all agreed as a family. I’m sure he would have been shocked by what was happening.’
Ms Colicci said it was not that Ms Grinberg, who was charged as executor of her late husband’s will, was left penniless by the court ruling.
She lives in a £2.5 million house in Surbiton and the court has heard she owns another flat in Hampton Court.
Her lawyer had argued that she had sacrificed a “dynamic career” as a chemical engineer to start a family with Colicci – they have a six-year-old daughter.
The court was told that much of Mr. Colicci’s fortune had been swallowed up by debts and obligations.
Mrs. Colicci is skeptical that as her ex’s second wife, she has no money.
“She has been very well taken care of. Her house is worth between £2.5 and £2.7 million and it emerged in court that she owns a flat in Hampton Court. She’s barely on her last penny.’
Mr Colicci had arrived in Britain in 1982 with the dream of ‘selling ice cream’.
Over the years he has built a thriving business at approximately 35 locations including Hyde Park and Green Park.
They also supplied ice creams to major events, including the Chelsea Flower Show and Royal Ascot.
Josephine played an integral role in building the business, which included a fleet of vintage ice cream trucks, and retains a 40 percent stake.
Her children Rob, who is married to former Hollyoaks actress Scarlett Bowman, and daughter Rosanna are also shareholders.
From left to right, Robert, Ernie, Josephine, and Rosanna all played a part in the success of the family business
Mr Colicci had arrived in Britain in 1982 with the dream of ‘selling ice cream’. Over the years he has built a thriving business at approximately 35 locations including Hyde Park and Green Park
Ms Colicci had argued that her ex-husband’s shares in ECSI Ltd should be transferred to their children, Robert and Rosanna (pictured).
When the first and second wives faced off in the Supreme Court in March, Ms Colicci said she initially considered Ms Grinberg a friend and attended her wedding to her ex.
She told the court that Mrs. Grinberg and Ernie almost broke up when he suggested she sign a prenup.
“She came to the altar reluctantly, he had to get her out of the room to come down,” she told the court.
Ms Colicci told MailOnline that her ex-husband had made it very clear that he wanted his interest in the ESCI Ltd company to be passed on to his children.
“Ernie was very firm about that. We agreed that if one of us died, the shares would go to the children. There was never any doubt and the 2016 agreement made it very clear.
“We knew that if we went to court, the agreement would stand. I don’t want to sound arrogant, but I knew we would win. I never doubted that the court would rule in our favor.
“If I leave, my shares will go to the children. That’s how we wanted it.’
Ms Grinberg declined to comment when approached by MailOnline.