Toronto Sun – The stage is set for what could be a drawn-out legal battle between two estranged lovers for a disputed $6-million lottery jackpot.
And the lawyer for Denise Robertson, the Chatham woman who claims she’s entitled to half that prize, says the decision by Ontario’s gambling overseer to award former live-in boyfriend Maurice Thibeault the undisputed $3 million hurts his client’s chances.
“Ms Robertson feels that she is now placed in a position of unfairness,” lawyer Steve Pickard said Monday.
“Mr. Thibeault will have the benefit of his half of the winnings to fight Ms Robertson’s legitimate claim to her half.
The Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corp. (OLG) notified Robertson by letter on Thursday — a copy of which was obtained by Postmedia — that the internal probe prompted by her legal challenge of the jackpot was over.
“As you have claimed entitlement to one-half of the prize, being approximately $3.07 million, OLG will retain this portion of the prize,” the letter stated. “The other one-half prize share is undisputed by you and it is OLG’s intention to pay this share to Maurice Thibeault, subject to any applicable deductions, on or about Dec. 30, 2017.”
“If the OLG is not advised of a resolution of these matters within 45 days of this correspondence, OLG shall pay the disputed prize share into court on notice of both you and Mr. Thibeault,” the letter states.
Robertson and Thibeault made international headlines this fall after Thibeault bought one of two winning tickets in a $12-million Lotto 6/49 Jackpot on Sept. 20 and then moved out without telling his girlfriend. She claims Thibeault’s move was a bid to keep the roughly $6 million in winnings for himself.
In an affidavit, Robertson stated the couple had always agreed to share the winnings of lottery tickets purchased during their two-year-plus relationship.
There are no perfect men, only men with perfect intentions.
Thibeault’s intentions? Get the fuck away from this crazy person living in my house and this 6 million means I can go as far away as I possibly can.
Of COURSE, she said they predetermined sharing the winnings if they won. Every couple has that conversation when they buy a lottery ticket.
“If we win we share it! We are in love, and I don’t care about money baby. I just wanna be with you!”
Bullshit. Every man I know would do the same thing in a shitty relationship, and 6 million can always buy you a better-looking woman. In this case, winning a $50 scratch-n-win might have been enough.
Good luck bro. Remember, she can’t get it if you spend it.
Dean Blundell
Dean Blundell is a Canadian radio personality. Best known as a longtime morning host on CFNY-FM (The Edge) in Toronto, Ontario. In 2015 he was named the new morning host on sports radio station CJCL (Sportsnet 590 The Fan). Dean started his career in radio in 2001 and for nearly 20 years been entertaining the radio audience. Dean’s newest venture is the launch of his site and podcast which is gaining tremendous momentum across North America.