Quick Links   You last visited June 27, 2022, 10:05 pm All times shown are Eastern Time (GMT-5:00) | Jury rules that estranged brothers must split $1M lottery prize Pennsylvania Lottery: Jury rules that estranged brothers must split $1M lottery prizeRating:CARLISLE, Pa. — Over a year of legal bickering ended Wednesday afternoon, but it appeared neither brother feuding over a jackpot lottery ticket was ready to move on and sing "Kumbaya" together. After a two-day trial in Cumberland County, Pennsylvania, court, a jury decided two Mechanicsburg-area brothers, Charles Thomas Meehan and Ira Sharp, would split a $1 million lottery ticket straight down the middle. Sharp sued Meehan, his half-brother, for half of the prize he said they won together at Johnny Joe's bar and grill on May 21, 2013. (See Half brothers fight over million dollar lottery ticket, Lottery Post, July 16, 2014.) "Justice has been served," a tearful Sharp said after the hearing, adding that when it comes to repairing the fractured relationship between he and his half-brother: "I want to go outside, get a breath of fresh air, relax and then think about all of my options." Meehan refused to comment immediately after the hearing. His attorney, Douglas Miller, said after the trial that he hasn't discussed appealing the decision with his client. But he also said he doesn't foresee filing one. On whether his client is ready to hug it out with his brother, Miller said: "I would never say never, but it is very difficult for my client. He just wants to get this all over with. [Sharp] filed the lawsuit, and my client was willing to help him out." Sharp and Meehan had been drinking a few beers and scratching off lottery tickets at Johnny Joe's the late afternoon their fortunes changed. When Meehan was ready to fold and stop buying the $20 "Hot Million" tickets he buying from the vending machine, Sharp slid his brother a $20, which both agree is the case. But Sharp claims he told Meehan he was giving him the money under one codition: If it hit, the two would divide the prize in half. It hit. And immediately after, the two men went into the bathroom at Johnny Joe's to verify the ticket was a winner. Meehan said the only thing his brother said to him in the bathroom was "your life is going to change." But Meehan maintains that the two never discussed cashing the ticket in together the next day at Johnny Joe's or at his house when they left the bar. The jury didn't buy it. Instead, they made three decisions in Judge Christylee Peck's courtroom that blew up Meehan's account on Wednesday. The jury found that: - A legal contract did exist between the two brothers.
- Meehan breached the legal contract.
- Meehan had to pay Sharp $500,000 of the winnings.
"I think the truth prevailed," said R. Mark Thomas, Sharp's attorney, regarding the outcome of a case he called one of the most unusual he has ever handled in 27 years of practicing law. "The truth was his ally. But my stomach was rolling because you never know what a jury is going to do." As happy as Thomas was, he said he also was sad for the family ties that have been fractured through this feud. Too often, money splits loved ones apart and that like always, Thomas said it's "a travesty." Miller said the same about the family bond that fell apart after the ticket hit. And now, the next difficult part will be figuring out the tax implications Sharp and Meehan face, Miller said, because his client already was taxed, and faces additional taxes. Peck told the attorneys and the two brothers that is something they would have to handle outside of the courtroom. Patriot-News
Massachusetts United States Member #37432 April 14, 2006 2747 Posts Offline | Most people would actually be more than happy to share this kind of bread with their brother especially if they were drinking together and playing together at the time of win. Some people are just strange. So sad. That money's gone fo ever | | |
Wisconsin United States Member #123284 February 17, 2012 4581 Posts Offline | Just another case of GREED!! The greedy one didn't even pay for the ticket, his half brother gave him the $20 oops! a typo: See Half brothers fight over million dollar lottery ticket, Lottery Post, July 16, 2016.) | | |
texas United States Member #152317 February 11, 2014 175 Posts Offline | To avoid confusion,buy ur own ticket,keep it simple. | | |
Wisconsin United States Member #123284 February 17, 2012 4581 Posts Offline | To avoid confusion,buy ur own ticket,keep it simple. From what I read in the story there was no confusion, he knew he was suppose to share that ticket with his half brother but decided to keep it all to himself. There was only two people involved, not much confusion, just share, that's simple!! | | |
United States Member #72446 March 18, 2009 1391 Posts Offline | To avoid confusion,buy ur own ticket,keep it simple. , Get paid, who knows who was telling the truth. Who was already financially okay, and who wasn't.
I still don't know, from these articles, if the already claimed, winning lottery scratch-off ticket was $1M cash or merely $1M annuity value paid over 20 or so years. I also wonder how much each lawyer will charge, and this court's fees. Cheers everyone, there is lovely weather outside my window!  Having several millions of dollars in my financial accounts means receiving several valuable services each day! 
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United States Member #149590 December 4, 2013 208 Posts Offline | So after one year, taxes and massive LEGAL FEES, they each got how much?????? Quite silly. "It's good to have money and the things that money can buy, but it's good, too, to check up once in a while and make sure that you haven't lost the things that money can't buy." - George Lorimer | | |
United States Member #141028 April 2, 2013 1481 Posts Offline | Fools making rich lawyers richer. Seek and ye shall find -Matt. 7:7 ...Ask and ye shall receive -John 16:24 ...Give and it shall be given unto you -Luke 6:38 ...Be careful what you ask for!!! -Mypiemaster 1:1 Having Money Solves Problems That Not Having Money Creates ****John Carlton**** | | |
Pennsylvania United States Member #152521 February 17, 2014 25 Posts Offline | Well, there are no state taxes on lottery winnings in Pennsylvania. So take out 25% off the top for the Feds, then I believe, it would be an additional 15% come the following April, so that leaves roughly $637,500, split down the middle is $318,750. Now lord only knows what the attorney's fees were. | | |
* In hot pursuit of $ *
White Shores- California United States Member #136471 December 12, 2012 6813 Posts Offline | Fools making rich lawyers richer. 
What Meehan was attempting to do is " screw his half brother over!" He was an idiot to think that the court would side with him. His attorney probably knew that going in as well but figured that he had a fool for a client, why give him a " heads up" that his going to lose. Attempt to put up a fight for your client knowing you going to make out like a bandit when the smoke clears. Attorneys don't carry briefcases for nothing- its meant to carry off the client's money. | | |
25 Ringleader
Michigan United States Member #81738 October 28, 2009 99699 Posts Offline | Most people would actually be more than happy to share this kind of bread with their brother especially if they were drinking together and playing together at the time of win. Some people are just strange. So sad. Very sad. Happy National Sunglasses Day  | | |
Idaho United States Member #56504 November 21, 2007 7861 Posts Offline | Too bad Meehan couldn't do the right thing and share the jackpot with his brother in the first place. It's funny how he could take 20 dollars from his brother, but not give him half the winnings like Sharp deserved. | | |
United States Member #154191 April 7, 2014 74 Posts Offline | The last time I used a lawyer, I was given the choice of an hourly fee, or a 30% of 'gross' fee. Yes, it is sad that the one brother would not split the money, but large amounts of money really plays with people's mind sometimes. Now if only I can win one of the large prizes, and see if it plays with my mind. ;-) | | |
New York, NY United States Member #13514 April 7, 2005 235 Posts Offline | Probably won't be much to share after paying legal fees. | | |
Kentucky United States Member #32651 February 14, 2006 9615 Posts Online | Fools making rich lawyers richer. 
And even the poor lawyers are making a nice living. | | |
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