Pennsylvania brothers still battling over $1M lottery ticket

Oct 14, 2013, 11:51 am (17 comments)

Pennsylvania Lottery

MECHANICSBURG, Pa. — A $1 million winning lottery ticket still has two Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania, brothers fighting each other in court.

Ira Sharp is suing his half-brother, Charles Thomas Meehan, over what he claims is his half of the "Hot Million" scratch-off ticket purchased at Johnny Joe's bar and restaurant in Hampden Township in May.

(See Winning lottery ticket pits Pa. brothers against each other, Lottery Post, June 26, 2013.)

Sharp claims his brother not only owes him half of the $1 million from the ticket Meehan bought in the bar, he also is looking for court costs and attorney fees to boot, said his lawyer, R. Mark Thomas.

A trial was supposed to start Monday, but since Meehan will be out of town for much of the first half of October, Thomas said he has agreed to reschedule the court proceedings for December. A trial date has yet to be set, but Thomas said he has until Oct. 22 to schedule it.

Of course, the two brothers could work out an arrangement outside of court between now and December, but as Thomas said, "that hasn't happened," yet.

Meehan's attorney, James M. Bach, did not return interview requests for this all-too-familiar tale of money proving itself thicker than blood.

So how did the two brothers end up at odds in court?

Meehan and Sharp had been testing their luck on scratch-offs for some time prior to Meehan buying the infamous $20 "Hot Million" winning lottery ticket at the bar one evening in late May, according to an account of the evening given by Thomas.

Just when Meehan was about to fold, Sharp claims he slapped a $20 on the table, and said "Let's play one more ticket; if we win, we'll split the money."

Meehan bought the ticket, scratched it, and lo and behold, it was a winner, according to court records.

Sharp claims the two agreed to turn the ticket in to the Pennsylvania Lottery together, and split the pot. However, Meehan, who Sharp said went behind his back and turned the ticket in without him, said the two never came to such a verbal agreement.

The brothers agreement may be verbal, but nonetheless, Thomas said it should be honored by Meehan.

Meanwhile, as the lawsuit works its way through Cumberland County Court, Judge Christylee L. Peck granted an injunction at Thomas' request, ordering the lottery to withhold the winnings until she has issued a ruling on the matter.

Patriot-News

Comments

maringoman's avatarmaringoman

These two guys should realize that the lawyers are only too eager to let this fight escalate.

noise-gate

Quote: Originally posted by maringoman on Oct 14, 2013

These two guys should realize that the lawyers are only too eager to let this fight escalate.

Precisely.
This is another reason why l go solo when playing the lottery. It would  become my responsibility to divide the pie should l win.These lawyers are salivating at the prospect of claiming the lions share of tbis jackpot when the smoke clears. Both brothers are getting screwed.

maringoman's avatarmaringoman

Quote: Originally posted by noise-gate on Oct 14, 2013

Precisely.
This is another reason why l go solo when playing the lottery. It would  become my responsibility to divide the pie should l win.These lawyers are salivating at the prospect of claiming the lions share of tbis jackpot when the smoke clears. Both brothers are getting screwed.

They will bitterly remember this one day when the little money they end up with  after uncle sam and the lawyers are paid is gone and the rift between them is too wide to be closed. 

dallascowboyfan's avatardallascowboyfan

So much for brotherly love....Big Grin

dallascowboyfan's avatardallascowboyfan

Quote: Originally posted by maringoman on Oct 14, 2013

These two guys should realize that the lawyers are only too eager to let this fight escalate.

Yep the longer it takes to go too court the more money the sharks I mean lawyers getBig Grin

dallascowboyfan's avatardallascowboyfan

Quote: Originally posted by maringoman on Oct 14, 2013

They will bitterly remember this one day when the little money they end up with  after uncle sam and the lawyers are paid is gone and the rift between them is too wide to be closed. 

Sad but true.

maringoman's avatarmaringoman

Quote: Originally posted by dallascowboyfan on Oct 14, 2013

Sad but true.

If I was drinking with my brother, and you never drink with people you hate, I would gladly give him half of that money. Idk wth is wrong with some people!

noise-gate

Quote: Originally posted by maringoman on Oct 14, 2013

If I was drinking with my brother, and you never drink with people you hate, I would gladly give him half of that money. Idk wth is wrong with some people!

What is wrong here is that when you get down to it: money changes people or " reveals"  who they truly are. This was seen  earlier this year Maringoman when a Mother took her lowlife Son to court when he had claimed the jackpot for himself and cut her out when she was the one that bought the ticket. Money should never split a family apart in fact it should be Helping family members. I hope to God that should l ever win- this devilish behavior does not confiscate my life & consume me.

dpoly1's avatardpoly1

Brotherly Shove!

Argue

EdG1955

Money does change people. When my dad died, he had about $75,000 in his estate. My sister decided that since I lived in a different state and my brother and her used to fight when they were kids, she was entitled to everything. She is no longer in my life and will not be in my lottery win "share the wealth" plan for family members.

Pita Maha's avatarPita Maha

Quote: Originally posted by noise-gate on Oct 14, 2013

Precisely.
This is another reason why l go solo when playing the lottery. It would  become my responsibility to divide the pie should l win.These lawyers are salivating at the prospect of claiming the lions share of tbis jackpot when the smoke clears. Both brothers are getting screwed.

Great advice: going solo. You just never know, even if you have an agreement with family, how it would go if you won. You think you might know your family well but when big money comes a callin', you might find yourself getting a shock, facing a complete stranger.

If I look at my own family, I'd trust my dad completely, not my mother. My brother: hmmm, maybe, but certainly not his wife. My two sisters - no way!

My husband's family: two of his brothers, yes. One of his brothers, not on your life! 

Just way too complicated. Best to go solo.

RedStang's avatarRedStang

Two easy solutions. Fight it out like most brothers do or have a drinking contest. Maybe they'll kill each other for being stupid.

Goteki54's avatarGoteki54

How sad, two brothers ripped apart over just a millionaire dollars. Unhappy Blood is suppose to be thicker then money at least I would like to think so.

TheGameGrl's avatarTheGameGrl

Neither marriage nor blood gets the funds. Its really that simple.

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