Angela Borlaza, from the Philippines, accused Medavoy and fellow executors Larry J. Dressler and Avra Douglas of executing a codicil to Brando’s will 13 days before his death on July 1, 2004, which transferred power to them from the former trustees who were his longtime advisers.
Borlaza claimed Brando was suffering from "a plethora of diseases" and was too ill to sign anything. She suggested his signature was forged on the codicil.
Brando had pulmonary fibrosis, dementia and other ailments on June 18, 2004, when Dressler and a lawyer arrived at his estate where Borlaza ushered them into Brando’s bedroom, according to the suit. Then, according to Borlaza, the men told Brando they were there to change his will.
The changes "were designed to isolate (Brando) from his longtime trusted advisers and personal friends in order to facilitate a takeover of (Brando’s) financial and personal affairs during (his) life and gain control over (his) estate after his death," the court filing said.
Borlaza claimed that during the meeting, a handyman was summoned to witness the document, but she believed that Brando never signed anything because he was incapable of doing so.
Brando "was incapacitated, confused, medicated and non-communicative at the time of the alleged signing ceremony," said one of the documents filed in Los Angeles Superior Court on Friday. It said the actor had given Borlaza a secret code by which to recognize his signature, but the code was not on the codicil.
Borlaza’s suit said the original trustees of Brando’s estate were his assistant and confidante of approximately 50 years, Alice Marchak, and his business manager of some 40 years, Jo Ann Corrales. Both were fired shortly before his death, according to Borlaza.
Borlaza said she was hired in 1995 as Brando’s cook and eventually became the "major domo" of his residence, his personal assistant and "acted in his stead when he was not home."
"During the last years of his life, (Borlaza) and (Brando) had a loving and close relationship," the suit said.
As compensation for her work, she said, Brando bought her a house where she lived with her children and her sister who came over from the Philippines. She claimed Brando purchased the house for her in 2002 but kept it in his name for tax purposes, promising her the deed would be transferred to her before his death.
Brando "became too ill and failed to execute said deed prior to his death," according to the suit.
It claimed many people knew of the agreement and when Borlaza approached Medavoy about it after the actor’s death, he assured her repeatedly "that she had nothing to worry about concerning the house, that the estate was going to do the right thing by her."
"It was not until (Borlaza) was evicted in early March of 2005, (that she) realized that she was being lied to and deceived by defendant Medavoy," the lawsuit said.
Borlaza’s suit said the house has been sold and she is seeking the proceeds from the sale as well as $2 million in punitive damages.
Neither Medavoy nor his lawyer, Charles Larson, could be reached for comment. Telephone messages left for the attorney were not returned. A separate message left for Dressler was not immediately returned.
Brando biographer Peter Manso said about six other lawsuits have been filed since the star died, but this one may serve to uncover details of Brando’s final days. The author of "Brando: The Biography," has been following developments since the star died.
"We need to know what happened to Marlon in the last year of his life," Manso said. "It’s a sad, sad story. Marlon Brando was one of the great artists of the 20th century whose personal life was known for disorder and now it continues after his death."
He added that Brando was long estranged from the Hollywood hierarchy and, "It’s a great cultural irony that mainstream people in Hollywood would come in to take over his estate."