Mass. lottery winner, 94, sues to get lump-sum payment

Comment #15

DoctorEw220 — Wed, 02 Feb 2005 06:07:25 GMT

although the winner should have paid attention to the rules of the game, Massachusetts is well overdue for the addition of a cash option to Megabucks.

Comment #14

CASH Only — Sun, 02 Jan 2005 18:36:15 GMT

Jimmy:I hope so. We need to keep boycotting Mass Megais bad$.

Comment #13

JimmySand9 — Fri, 31 Dec 2004 00:20:14 GMT

I'm sure in the end, they'll be more inclined to offer a cash option with Megabucks.

Comment #12

Todd — Thu, 30 Dec 2004 22:28:37 GMT

I'm sure it varies by state. In some states it is a difficult process to get someone evicted. It's one of those things where possession is 9-10ths . The person occupying the space has a great deal of power, but often they don't know it. As you say, they usually don't have the kind of resources it takes to compete with a landlord's attorney.

Comment #11

jim695 — Thu, 30 Dec 2004 16:44:40 GMT

Tennants' rights are very strong, and there is a specific set of rules that must be followed before an eviction can take place. Then, once the eviction is started, it is a lengthy process itself.Bottom line is that a landlord can get rid of a tennant, but it takes a long time.((Whew!)) I was beginning to fear no one would ring in on this... Well, again, I'd like to point out that what looks good on paper does not always hold up in actual practice. I have a book called, Guerrilla Tactics for La... [ More ]

Comment #10

Todd — Thu, 30 Dec 2004 13:18:08 GMT

Quote: Originally posted by jim695 on December 30, 2004Jazam:Thanks for your input, but your argument doesn't hold water.First of all, your landlord owns the property; you only rent it month-to-month, or lease it term-to-term (one year, two years, etc.), according to the agreement, or contract you've signed. If you're renting, he can throw you and your belongings out on the street whenever the whim strikes, so we can dispense with wasting further time on that nonsense.Secondly, Ms. Outing's agr... [ More ]

Comment #9

jim695 — Thu, 30 Dec 2004 12:02:41 GMT

Jazam:Thanks for your input, but your argument doesn't hold water.First of all, your landlord owns the property; you only rent it month-to-month, or lease it term-to-term (one year, two years, etc.), according to the agreement, or contract you've signed. If you're renting, he can throw you and your belongings out on the street whenever the whim strikes, so we can dispense with wasting further time on that nonsense.Secondly, Ms. Outing's agreement to accept their terms by buying a lottery ticke... [ More ]

Comment #8

jazam — Thu, 30 Dec 2004 10:10:27 GMT

I disagree,even if the property is hers she has entered into an agreement with all the appertaining terms and conditions. The lottery offered winnings by annuity, by her actions she accepted.If your landlord suddenly wanted a lump sum instead of monthly payments you would tell him where to go regardless of ownership. Neither could he seize back his property without breaching an agreement. The contract is paramount.Contract law will apply. Any ruling in her favour will also apply to other winners... [ More ]

Comment #7

jim695 — Thu, 30 Dec 2004 01:35:12 GMT

Oh, for cryin' out loud, people; give me a break!Even the hard and fast laws of nature occasionally treat us to the odd exception, and what's good enough for nature should be good enough for an anal-retentive state lottery director. Where do they find these people??? I suspect that Mr. Sullivan has some difficulty removing his pants without the aid of a good, stout stick.Common sense tells me that Ms. Outing will ultimately prevail, and I would not rule out possible punitive or compensatory dama... [ More ]

Comment #6

BabyJC — Wed, 29 Dec 2004 21:57:12 GMT

The lady's lawyer is right -- If the Mass Lottery gave a bank 3.5 million to invest on her behalf, they could have just given it directly to the winner instead! If the woman wins her case, they should offer the cash option to all winners in the future however

Comment #5

CASH Only — Wed, 29 Dec 2004 21:14:14 GMT

All other state lotteries pay in cash or offer a lump-sum option on their jackpot games. (Of course, OR, PA, and WA have a lifetime prize in their online games, and Mass/NY have annuity-only scratch-off games.The legislation that Bill Clinton signed in 1998 allowing winners to choose cash or annuity after winning did not go far enough; it should have forced lotteries to offer a cash option on ANY prize (other than lifetime prizes) paid through an annuity.

Comment #4

four4me — Wed, 29 Dec 2004 20:35:56 GMT

She has grandchildren who are living she should have given the ticket to one of them. Or try and claim it as a partner. this is another case of not being prepared for the consequences of her actions when she bought the ticket she should have realized that if she actually won how or what action she should have taken to claim the winnings. Knowing that she would never out live the annuity. They could drag it out in court until the day she dies and then what

Comment #3

tg636 — Wed, 29 Dec 2004 18:29:13 GMT

One could argue that the rules are the rules and she knew about the 20 year payoff when she bought the ticket. One could argue that. I prefer a second argument: that the MA lottery is run by corrupt lying sacks of sh*t and annuity only is just a way of handing banking business to their pals and complete unacceptable whether you are 94 or 24.As an aside, if I were 94, I'm not sure I'd like to spend my last months in legal battles.

Comment #2

mrmst — Wed, 29 Dec 2004 15:53:51 GMT

LOL at DoctorEw220's message!While I can understand a 95 year old wanting a lump-sum pay out - Megabucks is clearly an annuity game, if she did not want an annuity - she should not have played it. There are many games where I would like to change the rules - but that does mean I can

Comment #1

DoctorEw220 — Wed, 29 Dec 2004 15:09:41 GMT

CASHOnly must not be up yet. He hasn't commented on this yet.

Mass. lottery winner, 94, sues to get lump-sum payment

Lottery Post — Wed, 29 Dec 2004 13:10:51 GMT

Louise Outing is 94 years old, and she knows it would be foolish to expect to live another 20. So the lottery winner wants all of her cash now, not in payments spread out over the next two decades.''In March, I will be 95 years old. Do you realize that? Ninety-five in March, the Everett woman said in a telephone interview yesterday. ''Now, you know I'm not going to live 20 years. Outing won the Sept. 4 Megabucks drawing, and she wants the Massachusetts State Lottery Commission to cut her a chec... [ More ]