BAKERSFIELD, Calif. — A year after winning the big $51 million Mega Millions jackpot, Bakersfield resident Etta May Urquhart took her son to court saying he commandeered the money and went on a spending spree.
(See Woman accuses son of taking $51 million lottery ticket, Lottery Post, May 6, 2012.)
Well, that lawsuit has now been quietly dismissed following a settlement agreement.
"I checked it twice before I went outside because I couldn't believe it," Urquhart told 17 News in May 2011.
Grinning from ear to ear, 75-year-old Etta May Urquhart sat beside her son Ronnie Orender in May 2011 and happily accepted the $51 million check.
But, the happy times soon ended.
The family took a $32 million lump sum payout, and Urquhart says her son hijacked the money soon after it was deposited at Moneywise Investments.
Last May, Urquhart filed a lotto lawsuit claiming Ronnie bought four different houses under his name, ten cars and a boat.
The lawsuit was dismissed as both sides carried out a settlement.
"Etta May was crying, telling me how much she loves her son Ronnie and how she has always trusted him, saying this, she said this isn't Ronnie," said attorney Barry Goldner in May 2012.
Orender who bought two homes in northwest Bakersfield, side-by-side, declined to comment Thursday, saying if he did he would be violating some of the terms of the lawsuit.
Urquhart didn't answer her door Thursday, and her attorney declined to comment, citing a confidentiality agreement signed by both sides.
But, property records suggest part of the settlement included Orender transferring title to some of the homes back to Urquhart.
Her lawsuit suggests Etta May bought the winning ticket, but was so nervous to sign paperwork to claim the winnings, she let her son sign on her behalf.
And, to deflect the media attention, Urquhart says she agreed to tell everyone she bought the ticket for her son who told us two years ago he did have plans for the money.
"Just put it in the bank and decide what kind of house we'll get and probably get some cars," said Ronnie Lee Orender in 2011.
Now it appears, the year-long battle over the cash has to come an end, though Orender's lawyer declined to say whether mother and son have reconciled.
Thanks to dallascowboyfan for the tip.
The fact that an attorney can argue on behalf of a son who raped his mother of her win-fall answers all questions as to why there is a global coalition demanding "Hell" gets upgraded before hosting some of these heartless wonders. The son in the meanwhile should be rotating between cell blocks. After all, variety is the spice of life!
I hope it's really over/settled. May both of them enjoy the money (hopefully, half, after taxes, should get divied between each, if title(s) have to be changed over ).
Probably thought that since Etta was up in years, she had no use for money. This son of theirs is a First class bottom dweller.He should serving time at Pelican Bay- California's 2nd " Alcatraz"
What on earth would you need 10 cars for
. Glad Miss Etta May is getting some of the money which she should have been getting from day one any way. Shame on the son for doing his mother like that
.
You were not there, so I find it hard to understand how you can judge so harshly? If she trusted him enough to let him sign the ticket and say "I gave it to him" she should have been happy with whatever he gave her.
I would need 10 cars to fill my TWO 6 car garages.
Strange how a mother sues her son over a lottery ticket, yet the following story has coworkers sharing their winnings with someone who did not buy in.
Classic Ronnie!
What you gonna do with the other two spaces
I know buy two more cars
I don't think he gave her anything/not much that's why she sued.
Good point, but its still true that she gave him the ticket to sign and cash.
I was thinking lounge chairs in the other 2 spaces.
Thanks, us Ronnie's have to stick together. lol.
The first story she said "he took the ticket", but in this story she said she was too nervous to sign it and wanted to "deflect the media attention" so she asked him to sign the ticket and fill out the paperwork. It looks like she is just objecting to how he is spending the money. We have no idea what the actual agreement was before she told her son to validated the ticket and it's possible she is suffering from dementia.
I believe her son did her a favor by settling out of court because if she really was too nervous to sign the ticket, I can't imagine her testimony.
The article form May 6, 2012 states he was to sign her name not his.
"But as it turns out Orender "signed the winning ticket in his own name and not on behalf of Etta May," the lawsuit said."
https://www.lotterypost.com/news/245837
It also says she used "his" $2. to buy the tickets in a statement from MegaMillions............
Last year's Mega Millions statement about the winning ticket said, "It was actually Orender's mother, Etta Urquhart, who took his $2 and bought two Mega Millions tickets at Stuarts Oak Street Mobil in Bakersfield.".
I think MegaMillions had the story strait LONG before a lawyer said "he signed his name instead of hers"
This lowlife Son was screwing his Mother over because he knows only too well that he did not buy the ticket. All he did was grin at the news conference while trying to figure out a way to get his greasy hands on the winnings. He couldn't believe his good fortune when Mother was shaking to badly to sign.
Make all the excuses one wants-Parents DO NOT take their children to court UNLESS some serious BS is being committed.
Until one finds themselves on the receiving end of such conduct one cannot side with the son... as being observed here.
Well a Mother and Son's relationship is now ruined, hopefully both figure out what really matters in life soon.
Can't trust anybody now a days..
Oh ok, I will look for the original article.
Ultimately it boils down to this: Do you take care of the woman who gave birth to you or do you throw her under the bus?
I got the quote form the story you posted.
https://www.lotterypost.com/news/245837
In the 11th paragraph.
It sounds to me like she bought tickets for him with his money. Later when she sued he settled out of court.
Parents can AND DO a lot worse than taking their children to court.
Mom is the thief in this story.
AMEN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! When I read this, I thought of a recent case at home here in the Bahamas involving a well known lawyer who represented a man who committed a HEINOUS crime - one of the WORST in this country's history (and he ADMITTED to it), was found guilty and when I saw the news with the attorney waxing poetic about how his client got a rotten deal...all I thought was HELL AIN HOT ENOUGH FOR HIS AZZZZZZZZZ!!! Heartless wonders INDEED! On the flip side, I would love to eyeball that confi agreement!!!
With all due respect Sir Ronnie: The son did lil talking or no talking at all at the lottery winning Conference last year, the questions were addressed to her because the press recognized her as the winner- not the son. Even you must see that.
If l borrowed $2.00 or more from Sir Ronnie to play MM or PB- does that mean Ronnie won? When you come up with the correct answer, the fog will lift.