Wikiany

Lottery winner was accused by family of lying about sharing $1 billion in windfall

Wednesday, 15/05/2024, 17:29 (GMT+7)

Mega Millions Lottery winner faces lawsuit over unfulfilled promises

A Mega Millions lottery jackpot winner, known as John Doe,in court documents, is facing a lawsuit for allegedly reneging on his promise to share his $1.35 billion windfall with his family.

Lottery winner was accused by family of lying about sharing $1 billion in windfall 1
John Doe won $1.35 billion in Mega Millions and took a lump sum of $500 million after taxes. Image Credits: REUTERS

John Doe won jackpot with $1billion windfall

John Doe hit the jackpot, winning a staggering $1.35 billion. After taxes, he collected a lump sum payment of approximately $500 million. However, the joy of this monumental win soon turned sour.

However, the lawsuit started when John Doe' family  reneging on promise to share $1billion windfall

The incident occurred when Sara Smith, the mother of Doe's daughter, was sued by Doe after she broke a non-disclosure agreement by revealing his win to his family.

Lottery winner was accused by family of lying about sharing $1 billion in windfall 2
Doe sued Sara Smith for breaking a non-disclosure agreement by telling his family about the win. Image Credits: REUTERS

This marked the beginning of a complex legal battle, with new court documents further complicating the situation.

However, the lawsuit escalated with the father's declaration.

Doe's father, a former police chief now in his 70s, claimed in a sworn declaration that his son misled him about the lottery win.

Lottery winner was accused by family of lying about sharing $1 billion in windfall 3
Smith's lawyers claim Doe himself told his father and stepmother about the win. Image Credits: AP

According to the latest court filings, Doe himself informed his father and stepmother about his lottery win, contradicting his previous claims.

He said: 'I made the mistake of telling my father that I had won the lottery without having him sign a confidentiality agreement"

Doe revealed that his relationship  deteriorated quickly thereafter. 

The legal battle continued to escalate.

Lottery winner was accused by family of lying about sharing $1 billion in windfall 4
Doe’s attorneys filed for sanctions against Smith for trying to expose his identity.Image Credits: AP

On May 10, Doe's attorneys filed a motion for sanctions against Smith, accusing her of trying to publicly expose his identity. They also alleged that she made false claims about his conduct following the win, including an alleged 'kidnapping' of their daughter, which Doe vehemently denies.

However, Doe's father claimed that his son had misled him about several matters since the win.

In response, Smith presented a sworn affidavit from Doe's father, in which he chastised his son for not keeping his word after the lottery win.

Lottery winner was accused by family of lying about sharing $1 billion in windfall 5
Doe’s father claimed Doe promised to build a garage, buy cars, and set up a $1 million trust fund. Image Credits: Getty

Doe admitted in the court papers that he made a mistake by telling his father about the win without having him sign a confidentiality agreement.

He  said: 'February or March of 2023, my son came to my house in [REDACTED], and informed me and my wife that he won a large amount of money in the Maine State Lottery. 

'I understand that my son has stated that he told me nothing about his money ‘other than the simple fact that I had won.’ That is not true.

Additionally,  Doe was accused by his father. 

He alleged that Doe promised to build him a garage, buy him cars to fix up, and even purchase the house where Doe had lived with his parents during his childhood.

Lottery winner was accused by family of lying about sharing $1 billion in windfall 6
Doe’s father declared in court that his son misled him about the lottery win. Image Credits: REUTERS

Additionally, Doe allegedly promised to set up a $1 million trust fund for his father and provide 24-hour care for his parents should they ever need it.

After facing the lawsuit, the relationship between Doe and his father became strained.

The father also revealed that Doe insisted that neither he nor his wife have any communication with Smith, the mother of their grandchild.

After expressing his disappointment in the person his son had become, Doe's father claimed that his son became angry and cut off all communication with him.

Lottery winner was accused by family of lying about sharing $1 billion in windfall 7
Doe claims Smith falsely accused him after rejecting her demands for a Disney World vacation. Image Credits: Getty

Smith's lawyers argue that Doe originally filed the suit to keep his lottery win a secret from his family and to punish Smith after she rejected him.

They claim that Doe is using his newfound wealth to overwhelm Smith with expensive litigation and extort concessions.