The man whose legal battle with Ontario Lottery and Gaming brought about an investigation and wholesale changes to the Crown corporation lost his fight with cancer Monday.
Bob Edmonds, from the central Ontario town of Coboconk, died in hospital at age 83. His son, Bob Edmonds Jr., said his father's struggle began years ago and grew more acute as the cancer spread.
"The cancer spread from the bowel to his liver and pancreas and eventually claimed his life," Edmonds said in an interview.
Despite fighting cancer, Edmonds sued the lottery corporation in 2002, alleging he was duped out of a $250,000 cash prize.
The CBC's "The Fifth Estate" documented Edmond's case, alleging that a lottery retailer kept the winning ticket for herself.
The OLG settled with Edmonds in 2005, paying him $200,000.
When asked to confirm media reports that his father received $50,000 in legal fees and an apology from the OLG three days before his death, Edmonds declined to comment.
"This is a real bad time, the whole family's here," he said.
Edmonds Sr.'s lawyer, Alan Rachlin, told the CBC that his client was aware of the final letter but that he never got to read it.
Edmonds endured a painful five-year legal battle, but his win was significant.
The day after the CBC report aired, Ontario ombudsman Andre Marin announced an investigation into the lottery corporation.
He called the corporation's customer complaints department "rude and inept." .......
I think that is probably a media nicety.
"I cannot provide any insight to this house for what actions were taken or not taken . . . who made the decision to drag Bob Edmonds through the courts and treat him so disrespectfully," he said.
You could have helped him instead of letting them treat him so disrespectfully. Just because it wasn't your decision doesn't mean you had to sit on the sidelines and watch the wrongdoing.
He actually won the lawsuit? What a dumb judge.