INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. — "You'd think it should be an enjoyable time, winning the lottery," said Lucy Lewis-Johnston, "but it hasn't been the case at all."
Lewis-Johnston is one of eight Indianapolis hair stylists who fought over one winning ticket. They were all part of a lottery pool last February at Lou's Creative Styles, the salon Lewis-Johnston owns.
(See Hair stylists spar over $9.5M Hoosier Lotto jackpot, Lottery Post, Feb. 22, 2013.)
The woman who bought the ticket said the winner was one she bought for herself — not for the group.
"We were betrayed," said Lewis-Johnston.
Suddenly, people who Lewis-Johnston felt were "salon sisters" were divided.
"We have been living on a yo-yo string, basically. Up and down. Up and down," she said
Seven stylists went to court against the eighth to fight for what they perceived as their share of a $9.5 million Hoosier Lottery jackpot.
Wednesday afternoon, Lewis-Johnston said the case had been settled. But, the agreement forbids her from revealing the distribution. All she could say was, "it wasn't what we deserve. You know, we deserved to get our equal share and we did not." They find happiness knowing that "a couple women that are ill are going to be able to stop working, possibly stop working, or cut their hours back and not work as hard as they've had to work."
The case reminds her that money isn't everything, as the saying goes.
"You can buy anything you want with money," she said. "But you can't buy love and you can't buy family members back, you know."
Lewis-Johnston said the woman who bought the ticket no longer works at the east side salon. They've seen each other only when their case required it.
The remaining salon sisters still play the lottery.
Lewis-Johnston said they still don't have a written agreement about how they play it because they still trust each other. And, after this "nightmare," she's inclined to believe no agreement is necessary. "I don't think it could happen, twice, to the same people."
Wednesday afternoon, Lewis-Johnston said the case had been settled. But, the agreement forbids her from revealing the distribution. All she could say was, "it wasn't what we deserve. You know, we deserved to get our equal share and we did not."
It serves them right for not knowing which tickets were part of the pool and which were not. I feel that if you're gonna be lazy and not take interest in anything you are doing then you cannot complain of unfairness when things don't turn out your way. They should have got nothing.
Just buy your own tickets and drain the pool. I wonder how many tickets were purchased that day
for the pool players and how many she purchased for herself on 'the side'.
Greed strikes in places you'd least expect it to, you just can't trust anyone. Even family. There have
been countless times where someone stabbed someone else in the back over money. My gosh when
are people going to learn anything?
It's all fun and games until someone wins a jackpot. That's when things get dirty.
And yet they still don't have an agreement and dont think it can happen twice to the same people and they still trust each other.
Didn't this happen because they thought there was trust?
Didn't this happen because there was no agreement?
If you are still playing in a pool, it could happen again.
further proof the only good pool has water in it
STUPID is as STUPID does!
"I make copies at work and pass them out at work,"
According to the one who bought the ticket, they did know which tickets were part of the pool. All the circumstances surrounding this story are weird and it includes the settlement.
"Had that woman brought her winning ticket to the Hoosier Lottery headquarters, she would have claimed her money no questions asked. Instead, she went to the salon first and told them their pool didn't win, but she did. That's when they decided to file a court order to freeze that money."
Had the seven others really believed and had real evidence the ticket was part of the pool, why did they settle for much less?
Since we don't know the size of the settlement, it's possible the person with the ticket offered a much smaller amount to stop them from dragging it out in court and collectively the seven decided their case wasn't that strong. And based on what Lewis-Johnston said, I guessing the seven split $1 million or less. When PB and MM have huge jackpots, there are probably millions of verbal agreements between player and it's possible verbal agreements were made by this group in the past and why there is a settlement for much less.
"Didn't this happen because there was no agreement?"
I'm guessing verbal agreements were made in the past and having every member of a pool sign a 20 page legal waiver takes the fun out of forming a pool. If someone asked me to contribute $2 a drawing to join their pool, but I had to first sign a legal document in front of Notary, I'd probably say "no thanks" because nothing in the document would benefit me.
"If you are still playing in a pool, it could happen again."
I was in a pool of 30 players and two of the players formed another pool between themselves, won, and they split a $20 million jackpot. Since neither of them ran the 30 player pool, there was no controversy from 27 of the other players, but 20 years later one guy still says he was cheated because him and one of the two winners had agreed to give the other a large share if either won a jackpot.
TRUST AND VERIFY
...always get a copy of all the tickets purchased for the pool.
...always get the names of everyone participating in the pool.
...always get the amount contributed by each member.
...always get and document the number of shares puchased by each member.
Failure to follow these guidelines, will potentially elevate you to the status of SUCKER OF THE CENTURY, if your pool happens to win.
Those who fail to learn from history, are bound to repeat it.
The cons of having a lottery pool.no pun intended.there are more stories like this.what I dont understand is that they are still playing, but doubt they will win again "because they cant see it happening to the same people twice".
you just can't trust anyone
Actually I think she means another controversy..but if she did mean winning again, then why is she playing????
I can trust everyone if I want to.
It TAKES one to KNOW one!
It serves them right for not knowing which tickets were part of the pool and which were not
here's how she counted the tickets 1 4 u and 2 4 me
i think he live close to Indianapolis,in
Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding
I think she did the right thing to give up some cash and settle the dispute.
Hmmm from reading this story my humble opinion is that they meant winning. I mean geesh they still trust each other and dont have an agreement.They are repeating the same behavior, yet they are expecting a different result even if they do mean the controversy repeating again.Wait isnt that insanity, doing the same thing yet expecting a different result.Well I wish them well and IF they do win again it's settled fair and square amongst themselves.
JUST TO GET THEM OUT OF HER HAIR
Right, and if they were lying they will have the Piper to pay.
People sometimes forget, the consequences of a ripoff, of this magnitude. Some people will get so pi$$ed, that they will be willing to punch a couple of holes, in your head, with a couple of 50cal. slugs, so you can bleed out, your ill gotten gains.
Like a beuity shop manicure or something?
Like others on this thread, whenever I've been in a pool, and I did run one, we photocopied all the tickets in the pool and had a spreadsheet of pool members' names and their share. Everybody got a copy. Most people in our pool bought their own tickets for themselves, or in other pools, so it was imperative there was no question as to who won what. It's just basic common-sense. That salon group seem to think they're being all noble and pure of heart by claiming they trust each other, but they're actually displaying an incredible level of stupidity.
crime rate in Indiana, Chicago, Detroit Michigan is pretty scary
I'm smart enough to know that you ARE stupid!You don't even think before you run your mouth.You just put your foot in it and continue on as if nothing has happened.Pretty stupid!
Thanks for that compliment CLETU$. The word "stupid" is sure getting thrown around a lot here.
I think Chicago outdid Detroit this past year.
Did your mother have any children that lived?
drop dead gorgeous
They probably think that the words nobility and stupidity are interchangeable. Bless their hearts.
lol! Yeah, and bless their little white cotton socks too.
I think you just personified the word stupid. Nice work CLETU$.
YEP...and sometimes, its over a little bag of some green leafy substance.
God Bless you
Thank You...Umm I think
try to stay on the settle dispute topic
Your Welcome
Tell us the truth,Ronnie316,when your parents got divorced did the judge severe all family ties or did he allow them to remain as brother and sister?
Oh I see, you are trying to insult me...... Nice try but Im not really interested today.
Have a nice day today friend, I gots to go clean D tiolets......
Have a great day everyone..........
Make it a Great day!
Taking the high road huh? Cool.
IMA B havin a great "Thank goodness it's Thursday" Day. Thanks.
Cleaning the toilets,huh?Don't go away hungry!
topic CLETU$ has a dispute to settle.
you guys from Iowa sure are friendly
You and your buddy ronnie316 are cordially invited to the theological place of eternal punishment.
Now go hijack some other thread!
Oh my, what a story.
I think it is smart to already have copies made and distributed to every member a day or so before the draw so they are well aware of which tickets are a part of the pool. This was a reall messy pool. How do you not have any rules, copies, or agreements? Unbelievable. I really don't think they deserve a share since there were no copies of the tickets or numbers that was a part of the pool. But the "leader" of the pool should have let it be known that she buys tickets seperately as well as with the pool. Just very unorganized. And very stupid to STILL not have a set of rules.
if i was an unscrupulous pool runner, and the pool players didnt care to see the ticket, i might buy a matching number of lines for myself.and hand over the losing ticket to the the pool. and keep the winner for myself. if i was unscrupulous. but thwen i prob wouldnt even tell the office that i had won. far better to make a coppy and even just pin it to notice board. before the draw.and remain honest.
If I was in a pool, I'd bring in a cork board and a few pins and just photocopy the tickets for everyone to see. Or get everyone in the pool to sign the back.
One can only hope they never buy a winning lotto ticket...which reminds me, I just might make drive down to scoop up a chance to win Hoosier lotto. There won't be any disputes with me since I am a lone, free agent.
hahaha I bet! The judge should have just told them "just go back to work and pretend it didn't happen" and dismissed the case.
You're having fun with this lol
With PB and MM available, why would anyone form a pool for a local jackpot that was less than $12M?
It is interesting that the salon crew only got a bit of their "fair share." Usually it ends up the opposite in these pool situations. I wonder if the winner had some degree of evidence she purchased the tickets separately.
And here are the ligitgants in this case at the courthouse:
Here is the woman who purchased the ticket and then claimed the winning ticket was her's and not in the pool. Here name is Christina Shaw.
http://scallywagandvagabond.com/2013/02/hairstylists-squabble-over-9-5-million-jackpot-lottery/
Some of them look kind of old to be standing on their feet all day doing hair.
The lady claiming the ticket belonged to her alone probably felt the only "fair share" was all hers.
Artist, I was thinking the same thing.
...There is a SUCKER born every minute.
...See y'all in Vegas, and then I'm off to Hawaii to relax with your money.
...And all she had to do was give each participant a copy of the tickets BEFORE the draw, and this nonsense would have been avoided.
...As it stands now, they all have ulterior motives, motivated by greed, and self preservation
...EVENTUALLY, THEY WILL END UP, ENEMIES FOR LIFE..and it could have been avoided, if only they had copies ahead of time. TOO BAD.
Amen piemaster!!!
They look happy to get their dollar investment back.
That picture is from back when they had just sued for their share. Actually all the pictures on the comments of this news article so far are from the time the suit started. Maybe someone will find for us new pictures of the winner and the losers.
A lottery Pool with no rules is a recipe for disaster. Pointless saying you did not get your " fair share" -afterall its not like the win was $50 million.
If one joins these infernal pools-does it mean that no person within the pool can purchase tickets outside the pool? Better have that in writing or keep your mouth shut.
" Losers quit when they tired- Winners quit when they've won"
"they still don't have a written agreement about how they play it because they still trust each other."
I would never let somebody that stupid get near my head with a pair of scissors.
CLETU$, i am not coming to Iowa but thanks for the invite
Exactly! Just because you buy tickets in a pool does not mean you can't buy your own tickets or tickets in another pool or even 25 other pools. But the onus of proof is on the pool players to make sure their tickets are clearly specified so there's no confusion. I wouldn't be surprised if most, if not all, of the "losers" in that pool bought their own tickets too.
There almost should be rules in lotteries that say unless there's hard proof that a ticket is in a pool, it's not recognized as a pool ticket, so too bad. I'd hate to be an individual JP winner who won fair and square with my own ticket, then have a bunch of sore losers in a pool I was in come after me. And vice versa. When there's hard proof, then there's no room for argument.
Lottery Pools are like business partnerships, they rarely turn out good. The best way to make sure that lottery pools don't turn ugly is for the person to buy the pool tickets all at once and mark the times, then buy the personal tickets a few minutes later, this way it can't be said that the winning ticket was apart of the pool of tickets.
In the end, they are still going to get back more then they put in. Sometimes greed can cause people to act ugly.
i don't think people deserve to be robbed, shows your mentality.
They look like they are going into lottery headquarters to validate the ticket instead of going into court.
OMG! Look at her hair,and shes a hairdresser
you did know you was getting a picture took today right
I thought it was strange that they are all so giggly and giddy.
She is old school baby, a little dippidy doo and off you go.
maybe she buy the redlipstick Onlymonkey like red
she need to watch out for golfer1960
word on the street his likes them cougar with sum money
only will share wit D right person.
same thing state pays both
She should have cashed her ticket BEFORE she told the pool of her winnings.
Ronnie316 Loves Gloria
thanks that one was even better
do you pool
I pool myself.
You welcome.
Gloria never friend me.
maybe she don't use she's 89 remember
How she get FB page?
the same way she got her lottery tickets she cut in front of someone
Is there a reason that happens?
Everything happens for a reason
Nothing happens for a reason?
Did she do the right thing by settling the dispute?
I think she makes a good case for giving people money they don't deserve.
who
D lottery winner.
Ok
Yes, as I said a moment ago it is a good case for sacrificing some cash for a little peace of mind.
out of site out of mind, but when you get 84 you might get out of mind
Well I'm certain that anyone would do the same thing if they knew the consequences of a long drawn out court battle ahead of time. Experience is the best teach and I think Lucy had a great teacher.
punishment is judge sent them to Iowa
LOL helpmewin!!!!! You have got me pegged!!
But seriously Christina Shaw, call me!! You are super hot!
Is that you golfer?