The estranged husband of the Irishwoman who won a $21.5 million New York Lottery jackpot is set to sue her for his share of the winnings.
Patricia Daley Eisel's divorce from her husband, Jamie Eisel, was not yet finalised at the time of her win — which worked out to $8 million after taxes — in January. (See Long Island waitress wins $21.5M Lotto jackpot, Lottery Post, Jan. 28, 2011.)
They separated a year ago, after 13 years of marriage, and he is now living with a new partner. Patricia and Jamie have three children together.
The New York Post reports that Jamie Eisel is the subject of $8,000 worth of claims by three banks and the state, according to court records.
Daley Eisel was working two jobs — as a waitress and a babysitter — when she drew the winning six numbers. She should have been back in her native Offaly at the time, but bad weather meant her flight home was cancelled, and so she ended up spending Christmas in New York — where she played the lottery on a whim while doing her grocery shopping.
According to the Irish Echo:
Having won seven dollars on a previous lottery draw, she revealed how she asked the teller "What's on tonight?'". He said, "Powerball and Lottery". "I added a dollar to my $7 ticket and said, 'Give me a $4 quick pick on both'."
She was doing her laundry the next day when she decided to check her numbers — however, it was another three weeks before she claimed the money.
I got nervous, I didn't want any attention on my kids and I wanted to think.
Lawyers told the New York Post that Jamie Eisel may be entitled to up to half the winnings. "Generally, monies that are from the lottery are deemed to be marital monies. It's subject to equitable distribution in New York," attorney Marilyn Chinitz said.
However, Irish Central reports that Eisel's co-workers at the Saloon Bar in Long Beach say her ex-husband shouldn't get a share.
One waitress told The New York Post, "They had a contentious relationship. I bet [Jamie's] sorry now. She looks better than she ever did. She looks like she's glowing."
Eisel said at the time her win was a godsend.
"I have been in America since '95. I babysat at first and right now I live in Long Beach. I waitress and bar, tend and mind kids.
"It's a struggle to keep it all together but it's good — the bar's good where I work. But this is going to make it a lot better."
She has sworn "to keep life normal, no big purchases." She even said she'd keep working "for a while."


congratulations to both winners
Congrats to Patricia.
people should just stop getting married then....
however she said she was in America sense 95". oooo so by getting married she got her self a "get out of jail free card" so to speak, and got to stay here forever then? both stories was not clear on that for me,
sense must people don't know this,
but you Don't need the state to grant you the right to marry someone
, for 100+ years people got married in usa before the Sate started "granting" people the right they already had, to get married
, they called it Common-law marriage
, you just record it in your family bible so forth back then, by getting married today, Bam, you just signed a contract with the state, and ever law that applys to "state/govt" married people must obey when <snip> hits the fan
its really silly, people go to the govt at ever point to get something they already had, they already had the right to marry, its just they wanted it to be form the "all powerful gods" of the govt,
back then, people thinked only god was the one to marry people, now its the govt, LOL, anyway anyone who get married by "govt" deserves to be robbed of half their winnings, even thro this guy clearly does not deserve it
@ Josh
Yes, I've always thought that the government shouldn't be regulating marriage. At least the Feds, but States too, for the most part.
This is unfair they shouldn't award him half of her winnings, but then again how long would it be before he's back where he is broke to the bones, he is just greedy
Since they had been separated for a year and it seems as though she has the kids, he shouldn't get anything. If he had/has the kids then it would be a different story but that doesn't seem to be the case.
The Law is Reason, Free from Passion -Aristotle
They separated a year ago, after 13 years of marriage, and he is now living with a new partner. Patricia and Jamie have three children together.
The New York Post reports that Jamie Eisel is the subject of $8,000 worth of claims by three banks and the state, according to court records.
If the courts HAVE to give Jamie Eisel anything, they should ONLY give him $8,000 AND make him pay back child support plus interest if any.
Once again greed rears it's ugly head. It is obvious that he moved on with his life. After all he is shacking up with his new partner.
Patricia Daley Eisel deserves the best for herself and her children. If there is any justice in this country, greed will not win out.
I wonder, if Jamie owes three banks $8,000, how much does he owe the loan sharks?
people would be all over the guy to give her half if he had won. Don't want to share a big jackpot with your ex? Get a divorce before playing.
He shouldn't get anything . They both agreed to go their own ways a year before. If I agree to leave a year or even a week ago , am I entitled to come back and get half of your belongings , furniture , clothes etc a year later . She bought the ticket , he paid nothing for it , she signed it not him , it belongs to her.
He lives with someone else now. He had no intention of returning to his ex. Also if he had won , do you think his new interest would let her have half ??
Pay him half and then hit his A$$ up for child support!
W-Eisel
all true but u have to remember that getting married is a business arrangment also, if they really wanted to cut all ties to each other they should have ended the license they have for one another loooong time ago!!
Congratulations Patricia.......
Congrats to her! But there's always more to a story and stuff behind the scenes that doesn't get explained ... In New York you have to be legally separated for at least one year before you can get an "uncontested" divorce. Less time if you want to duke it out in court ... [Obviously I'm speaking from some experience here ...]
She'll probably have to make some little settlement, but I doubt he'll get half! Hopefully she had a good separation agreement made up.
If the situation was reversed and it has been, the women would scream for the mother to get the money. Women have been divorced for years and have been awarded half by the state. In my heart, I believe a lot of women hate men. Remember, men are your sons, brothers and fathers. Men are the same species as you and only differ a litte. Men and women are the 2 halves of a whole and when mating form the beast with 2 backs.
If you don't want to share your life, don't marry. If you do marry, it is a contract and lottery winnings are considered marital assets. If you try to hide them, sometimes the courts will award the whole amount to the wronged spouse. Food for thought.
hey when ever anyone gets a chance ...look at the new web page for t he NY lottery...then do a map search for the winners ;
you will see a vast difference in winners all in the NY city area and Alabny ,ny area ...big winners but buffalo and niagra falls area not so lucky??
/
What are you saying, look where?
Im going threw a divorce right now, we have'nt seen eachother for 3 years 2 months, she hasnt seen our 2 children for over a year and 1/2. If i won during the divorce of course a lawyer would try to get her half.. Remember lawyers make money when there clients make money...
He doesnt deserve anything, after all hes already moved on. Marriage seems more and more like a waste of time. Its easy to get into, hard to get out of. Since he's living with a new partner, by a moral standard, Patricia shouldnt be held to the BUSINESS aspect of a marriage, for a lack of a better word, situations like this are bull----.
Her loss, his gain: she should have never married. Anyway, they weren't divorced, so he's laughing all the way to the bank.
but remember they say she did file for a divorce, even if the papers are not finalized, that should mean something, did he even show up for his divorce or what.
I agree with those that say if the shoe was on the other foot. Amazing how gender plays apart in the fiasco of opinions. Bottom line: The Laws of New York take precedence. Any opinion displayed by posters is not going to change that law. And just to make matters sweeter, he can then file for alimony. She'll need to get a good lawyer to negotiate the sums.....
Child support is a separate issue to be determined thru another system.
I personally think ADULTS be they married or not need to stand and fall on their own two feet. But then again I was raised not to ride the coat tails of others.
Just another reason for all state lotteries to allow people to make their claims anonymously!
married when ticket wins separated or not=half.
also depends on the state where they got married.
She should give him half of the money
and then give him HIS LEGAL LIABILITES!
I would also make sure he paid their college tution.
Child support - Oh my! at least 750.00 per week. All medical bills and dental bills and if he is supporting the other woman's children..oh well give them some, too.
Why don't we change the law?
The freebie is not permitted to be given to the estranged partner.
well a lot of these cases can be settled out of courtt, and not always fgor half, he maybe claiming half but will settle for less. what her lawyers have to determine is how little will he settle for.
or can let the judge decide.either way justice is supposed to be blind so dont matter if its a guy or woman payout should be the same.
but if i was defendant id point ot the fact he never paid child support so its prob best to award some of the money to me as hes not likely to pay now he is richer, so its safer in my pocket not his.
In my opinion, its her win so she keeps the bulk of it. Give him some, because she came forward before the divorce was final. I'm thinking she had the kids, he left and made a new life. He couldn't afford childsupport so she didn't divorce him right away. (assuming here...don't know the full story) If he is demanding half. Take him to court. Get childsupport, back dated, then sue for back alimony if she didn't work when they were together. He can't get alimony because the money was won after they seperated. I'm only saying this because she has the kids...if he did I would be siding with him. Also, if he is being a [bleep] then I would also get him for adultry since they are still legally married. He can't afford his bank loans or whatever he has, he sure as hell can't afford a good attorney. If he does find one that will work on a if you win, I win basis, he'll get jipped out of a LOT more money. He might just want to settle and be happy with what he gets. :)