Judge rules man has no right to ex-girlfriend's lottery winnings

Feb 8, 2012, 10:57 am (51 comments)

Florida Lottery

A Seminole County, Florida, man who sued his ex-girlfriend for half of her $1 million Florida Lottery winnings went away empty-handed Tuesday, her attorney said.

After 1½ days of testimony, Circuit Judge Alan Dickey ruled in favor of defendant Lynn Anne Poirier in what's known as a directed verdict — meaning the plaintiff's case was deemed legally insufficient.

Howard Browning, who is unemployed, and Poirier, a Seminole County special-education teacher for more than three decades, had lived together for 16 years, he said. They agreed that if either ever won a lottery, they would share the winnings, he contended. In 2007, he gave her $20 for a ticket, and she won, he argued in court.

Poirier disputes that account, said her attorney, Mark Sessums of Lakeland. Poirier bought the ticket herself, never agreed to share any winnings, had been trying to get Browning to leave her Geneva farmhouse for some time and eventually evicted him, Sessums said. She later sold the house.

Orlando Sentinel

Comments

mcginnin56

BOO-HOO!  for poor Howard Browning.     Crying

Here's a news flash..........get a job, and start buying your own lotto tickets.   No No    Poke

MississippiMudd

I wonder?  If he bought the winning ticket and she sued him, would the judge rule the same way?

TheGameGrl's avatarTheGameGrl

Quote: Originally posted by MississippiMudd on Feb 8, 2012

I wonder?  If he bought the winning ticket and she sued him, would the judge rule the same way?

I must concur. Simply put IF he were a stay at home Dad raising her children/their kids, the courts would still side with the lady. Reason being...us women are to appear helpless and need all the govt help possible to reach the status of men. By the way..I do NOT adhere to that statement...its an observation I have seen with living 50 years on this earth and watching as Justice is swiftly blinded by gender. She graciously "evicted" him after she most likely had the monies in hand...What a back handed thing to do.

I'm sure there is MORE To both sides of this story...but the judge ruled...and someone is left the fool.

Littleoldlady's avatarLittleoldlady

Quote: Originally posted by MississippiMudd on Feb 8, 2012

I wonder?  If he bought the winning ticket and she sued him, would the judge rule the same way?

Probably not.  That is why I don't condone folks "living together" for long periods of time.  Someone always gets the short end of the stick.  If he had married her, she would have had to split..regardless.

TheRightPrice

Scared OMG! I'm so sick and tired of hearing about all these people who want to sue others for lottery winnings that DO NOT BELONG TO THEMScared

VenomV12

Sign your tickets, I don't care if you buy them with your brother, your mother or the local church pastor. I sign all my tickets, even the ones I give as gifts. 

I may give a ticket as a gift, but I am <snip> sure not stupid enough to let you walk away with millions and I get nothing in the event the ticket turns out to be a winner. 

This post has been automatically changed by the Lottery Post computer system to remove inappropriate content and/or spam.

Cletu$2's avatarCletu$2

Theres something to be said for that little piece of paper...the marriage license.

1977's avatar1977

Quote: Originally posted by Cletu$2 on Feb 8, 2012

Theres something to be said for that little piece of paper...the marriage license.

I argee with that!!!!! Shacking Up never pays off-----

Reign22

Quote: Originally posted by VenomV12 on Feb 8, 2012

Sign your tickets, I don't care if you buy them with your brother, your mother or the local church pastor. I sign all my tickets, even the ones I give as gifts. 

I may give a ticket as a gift, but I am <snip> sure not stupid enough to let you walk away with millions and I get nothing in the event the ticket turns out to be a winner. 

This post has been automatically changed by the Lottery Post computer system to remove inappropriate content and/or spam.

Smart idea...never thought to sign the ticket even if it was a gift because they can't claim it without you!

rdgrnr's avatarrdgrnr

Quote: Originally posted by VenomV12 on Feb 8, 2012

Sign your tickets, I don't care if you buy them with your brother, your mother or the local church pastor. I sign all my tickets, even the ones I give as gifts. 

I may give a ticket as a gift, but I am <snip> sure not stupid enough to let you walk away with millions and I get nothing in the event the ticket turns out to be a winner. 

This post has been automatically changed by the Lottery Post computer system to remove inappropriate content and/or spam.

Ahh Jeeeze.

I'd tell ya to keep it.

Unfrigginbelievable.

Uff Da!'s avatarUff Da!

Quote: Originally posted by VenomV12 on Feb 8, 2012

Sign your tickets, I don't care if you buy them with your brother, your mother or the local church pastor. I sign all my tickets, even the ones I give as gifts. 

I may give a ticket as a gift, but I am <snip> sure not stupid enough to let you walk away with millions and I get nothing in the event the ticket turns out to be a winner. 

This post has been automatically changed by the Lottery Post computer system to remove inappropriate content and/or spam.

OMG, a gift is a gift is a gift.  If you don't want to give a lottery ticket as a gift, completely and totally, then just don't do it!

In the case in the original article, it is hard to really know from the facts given whether the two ever agreed to share or not.  The burden of proof was on him, and he couldn't prove it.  If two or more people want to make such an agreement, shacking up or not, the solution is simple - just get it in writing and have it notarized!

Seattlejohn

What a loser.  Here's a tip, dude: grow up, get a job and pay your own way... just like the rest of us.

HaveABall's avatarHaveABall

It is a bad idea to begin or continue living with someone, or maintaining a relationship, when one does not enjoy the other person's company; because it sends unhelpful messages and feelings towards them.  It is unhelpful to both people and others around them.

What?

rdgrnr's avatarrdgrnr

There's a few wimmins out there livin' in houses I bought that if I'da had my druthers I'da lived with 'em instead of marryin' 'em.

Cuz like ol' Merle Haggard said:

 

My hat don't hang on the same nail too long

My ears can't stand to hear the same ol' song

And I don't leave the highway long enough

To bog down in the mud

Cuz I got Ramblin' Fever in my blood

 

I caught this Ramblin' Fever long ago

When I first heard a lonesome whistle blow

And if someone said I ever gave a dam

They dam sure told you wrong

Cuz I've had Ramblin' Fever all along

 

Sometimes I like to bed down on a sofa

And let some pretty lady rub my back

Spend the early mornin' drinkin' coffee

Talkin' about when I'll be coming back

 

But I don't let no woman tie me down

And I'll never get too old to get around

I wanna die along the hi-way and rot away

Like some old hi-line pole

And rest this Ramblin' Fever in my soul

Subscribe to this news story