The widow of the late Soundgarden singer Chris Cornell has hit out at his ex-wife, accusing her of filing ‘an inappropriate and frivolous’ complaint against his estate.
Vicky Cornell, 41, has now filed a motion to dismiss the lawsuit, DailyMail.com has exclusively learned, which accused her of failing to pay $5,000 a month in child support for Cornell’s daughter Lily, now 19, with ex-wife Susan Silver, 61.
Lawyers for Vicky also told DailyMail.com that the complaint had been filed ‘for PR purposes’ after it was allegedly leaked online after being lodged with a court in Palm Beach, Florida, on August 30 – but before her legal team had seen it.
The document accuses the 41-year-old of failing to honor a child support order made in Washington in 2001 to cover Lily’s expenses, including her health insurance and tuition fees.
But Vicky told DailyMail.com in a statement issued via her lawyers that she has ‘paid every penny of child support’ – even though she has no legal obligation to do so.
Chris Cornell’s widow Vicky Cornell, 41, (pictured together in 2012) hit back at his ex-wife Susan Silver’s lawsuit for unpaid child support, filing a motion to dismiss the complaint, DailyMail.com has learned
The Soundgarden frontman and Silver (pictured together in 1997) were married from 1990 to 2004, sharing daughter Lillian ‘Lily’ Jean Cornell, 19. The document accuses Vicky of failing to honor a child support order made in Washington in 2001 to cover Lily’s expenses, including her health insurance and tuition fees
But Vicky told DailyMail.com in a statement issued via her lawyers that she has ‘paid every penny of child support’ to Lily (pictured) – even though she has no legal obligation to do so
Lawyer Mike Singer told DailyMail.com: ‘Vicky Cornell, the Personal Representative of the Christopher Cornell Estate, has filed a motion to dismiss the inappropriate and frivolous claim filed by Susan Silver.
‘Vicky has paid every penny of child support which is required to be paid including all high school and college tuition, educational expenses, and health insurance.
‘Further, Vicky Cornell has made these payments even though she may not be required to pay the expenses under Washington law.
‘In fact, she has even over-paid the tuition by paying for the last semester of Lily’s college without Lily disclosing that she had dropped out of school just a few days after the semester began.’
Singer added: ‘The suit was filed without notice. We saw it online and now we’ve responded. It should be dismissed as a matter of law for many reasons.
‘We are seeking an award of attorneys’ fees in response to this meritless action.’
Seattle native Cornell was found dead in a hotel room in Detroit, Michigan, on May 18 2017, aged 52.
The singer, who first burst onto the music scene in 1984 with Soundgarden, had battled depression all his life and was a close contemporary of Nirvana frontman Kurt Cobain who killed himself in 1994.
Vicky (left) accused Silver (right) of filing ‘an inappropriate and frivolous’ complaint against his estate. Her lawyer said: ‘The suit was filed without notice. We saw it online and now we’ve responded. It should be dismissed as a matter of law for many reasons’
Vicky claims she even ‘over-paid’ Lily’s college tuition ‘by paying for the last semester of Lily’s college without Lily disclosing that she had dropped out of school just a few days after the semester began’
Although Cornell’s death was ruled a suicide by hanging, Vicky insisted in February 2018 that he had not intended to kill himself but had been dealing with addiction issues and anxiety.
Speaking to ABC, she said: ‘He ‘would never have ever left this world [on purpose]. He wanted to be there for his family, for his children… he loved his life.’
She added: ‘He was the best husband, the greatest father. I lost my soulmate and the love of my life.’
Cornell’s death came just over an hour after he came off stage for the last time at the Fox Theater. A toxicology report found he had drugs in his system but that they had not caused his death.
In the same interview, Vicky said Cornell ‘was the furthest thing from a rockstar junkie. He just wasn’t [those things].’
But she added: ‘I don’t think that he could make any decisions, because of the level of impairment. I know that people say that you can’t blame yourself, and I’m trying not to, but there were signs.’
The late singer left behind three children: Toni and Christopher with second wife Vicky and Lillian from his first marriage to Susan Silver.
Cornell, (pictured in 1992) who first burst onto the music scene in 1984 with Soundgarden, had battled depression all his life and was a close contemporary of Nirvana frontman Kurt Cobain who killed himself in 1994
Cornell went on to wed French publicist Vicky later the same year, they have two children together (pictured in April 2017). After Cornell’s death, Vicky was left to manage his estate which includes the support agreement put in place for Lillian in 2001
Silver, a music manager, met Cornell on the Seattle music scene and later became Soundgarden’s manager.
She married him in 1990 but the pair divorced in 2004. Cornell went on to wed French publicist Vicky later the same year.
After Cornell’s death, Vicky was left to manage his estate which includes the support agreement put in place for Lillian in 2001.
According to Singer, Vicky honored the agreement after Cornell died even though she may have had no legal obligation to.
He also said that Lillian had withdrawn from college without letting her stepmother know.
He told DailyMail.com: ‘Chris’ obligations to provide child support may have expired under Washington law at his death.
‘In our motion we have stated that Ms. Silver’s lawsuit is without merit and was filed for PR purposes.
‘Lily started college and withdrew without even notifying Vicky. Vicky is very compassionate and would have likely understood whatever Lily’s reasons were for dropping out. The lawsuit is frivolous.’
If you or someone you know is having thoughts of suicide, please contact the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255.