By Aaron Miller-
A man from Maine who won a staggering $1.35 billion in the Mega Millions lottery last year IS entangled in a legal battle with his own family.
The winner, named as John Doe in court papers, secured the fourth-largest jackpot in U.S. history.
AD: Capeesh Restaurant
However, his story has taken a tumultuous turn as he is currently embroiled in legal proceedings with his daughter’s mother and his father, among other family members.
The winner’s father who is a former police chief now in his 70s, wrote in a sworn declaration that his son misled him after telling him of his lottery win.
According to reports from The Daily Beast, the lottery winner has sued his child’s mother, accusing her of breaching a non-disclosure agreement by revealing his enormous fortune to other family members.
AD: Oysterian Sea Food Restaurant And Bar
He claims she disclosed his winnings to his father, sister, and stepmother, and he is seeking hundreds of thousands of dollars in penalties for the alleged violation.
The child’s mother, however, has countered these allegations in recent court filings, asserting that the winner himself informed his father and stepmother about the lottery windfall.
Her legal team argues that this revelation undermines the basis of the lawsuit.
The legal drama intensified as the winner’s father entered the fray, disputing his son’s claims. “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,” the father stated in a declaration.
He further alleged that his son shared numerous plans for his newfound wealth, including building a new garage and purchasing old cars to refurbish, despite never being asked for any financial support.
On May 10, attorneys for Doe filed a motion for sanctions against Smith arguing that she had tried to publicly expose his identity.
Lawyers additionally claimed she made false claims about his conduct following the win, including an attempt to allegedly ‘kidnap’ their daughter which he insists is untrue.
Smith responded with a sworn affidavit from Doe’s father, during which his father scolded his son for not keeping his word in the aftermath of his lottery win.
Doe said in court papers: ‘I made the mistake of telling my father that I had won the lottery without having him sign a confidentiality agreement.
‘Our relationship deteriorated quickly thereafter. I did not tell him what I was doing with my money, how I was going to benefit my daughter, or any facts other than the simple fact that I had won.’
His father said that his son had misled him about a number of things since the large win.
His declaration says: ‘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.
This unfolding saga highlights a troubling trend among lottery winners, who often find their lives complicated by sudden wealth. Statistics indicate that many lottery winners end up in legal disputes or face significant financial and personal challenges.
A 2019 study by the National Endowment for Financial Education found that about 70% of lottery winners experience financial distress or go broke within a few years of their windfall.
Additionally, a considerable number of winners become embroiled in legal battles, often with family members or close associates, over their newfound riches.
The Maine winner’s predicament reveals the complexities and potential pitfalls of sudden wealth, as personal relationships become strained and legal issues arise.
AD: Heritage And Restaurant Lounge Bar