Ohio Man Sues Co-Workers After $99M Lottery Win

[MdmeX]

Barrister gamma your comments please

================================================

Ohio Man Sues Co-Workers After $99M Lottery Win

videoPhotoCaption = '';
A Mega Millions number selection card lies on the counter at a lottery ticket kiosk at O'Hare International Airport in Chicago, Illinois, in this Aug. 31, 2007 file photo. (Tim Boyle/Bloomberg/Getty Images)







videoPhotoCaption = '\n \t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tA Mega Millions number selection card lies on the counter at a lottery ticket kiosk at O\'Hare International Airport in Chicago, Illinois, in this Aug. 31, 2007 file photo. <span class=\"caption_credit\">(Tim Boyle\/Bloomberg\/Getty Images) \n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t \t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t';userPref = new Object();userPref.getAutoStart = function(){ asCookie = readCookie("upautostart"); asCookieVal = (asCookie)?asCookie:'false'; asCookieVal = (asCookieVal.charAt(0) == 't')?'true':'false'; return asCookieVal;}userPref.setAutoStart = function(state){ stateStr = state+''; createCookie("upautostart", stateStr,1000); userPref.renderAutoStartControls();}userPref.rende rAutoStartControls = function(){ ascObj = document.getElementById('autostartcontrols'); if(ascObj){ ascntrlStr = (userPref.getAutoStart() == 'false')?'Auto Start: On | Off':'Auto Start: On | Off'; ascObj.innerHTML = ascntrlStr; }}userPref.autoStart = userPref.getAutoStart();baseURL = 'http://a.abcnews.com/assets';pageId = '14453878';playlistIds = '14456694~12622301~10370389~14219440'kalturaIds = '0_rdnk3ziv~0_3n47os3d~0_0t1pzxxp~0_a77ydhir'adPat tern = 'AC';videoAutoStart = userPref.autoStart;currLeftRailId = false;leftRailVideoOpen = false;videoTitle = 'Man Sues Co-Workers Over Lotto Win';titleList = new Array(); titleList[0] = 'Man Sues Co-Workers Over Lotto Win'; titleList[1] = 'Lottery Winner\'s Dilemma'; titleList[2] = 'Lottery Winners Cash In Masks'; titleList[3] = 'Michigan Couple Sparks Lottery Probe';

window.playlist = new Object();window.playlist['0_rdnk3ziv'] = '/US/video/ohio-man-sues-workers-lotto-win-14456694';window.playlist['adContext-14456694'] = '';window.playlist['adContext-0_rdnk3ziv'] = '';window.playlist['share-0_rdnk3ziv'] = true;window.playlist['0_3n47os3d'] = '/GMA/video/big-money-big-mess-12622301';window.playlist['adContext-12622301'] = 'gma';window.playlist['adContext-0_3n47os3d'] = 'gma';window.playlist['share-0_3n47os3d'] = true;window.playlist['0_0t1pzxxp'] = '/International/video/lottery-winners-cash-masks-10370389';window.playlist['adContext-10370389'] = '';window.playlist['adContext-0_0t1pzxxp'] = '';window.playlist['share-0_0t1pzxxp'] = true;window.playlist['0_a77ydhir'] = '/Technology/video/michigan-couple-sparks-lottery-probe-14219440';window.playlist['adContext-14219440'] = '';window.playlist['adContext-0_a77ydhir'] = '';window.playlist['share-0_a77ydhir'] = true;window.playlist['keys'] = new Array('0_rdnk3ziv','0_3n47os3d','0_0t1pzxxp','0_a7 7ydhir');window.playlist['conEdkeys'] = new Array('14456694','12622301','10370389','14219440') ;abcnws_fw_params = {siteSectionId: 'nws_business', siteSectionIdType: 0, siteSectionNetworkId: 168234, siteSectionFallbackId: 109523, customVisitor:'', keyValues:'pageType=story'}; pc.fwSeg();pc.fwAppendKeyValues('show=');pc.getSWI D();function fw_config(){return abcnws_fw_params;}if (tq.videoOverrideContext != null) { jsvideoViewEventProp16Value = tq.videoOverrideContext; } else { jsvideoViewEventProp16Value = "videoadtree|BusyProfessional/PersonalFinance/"; } if (jsvideoViewEventProp16Value == "none") { jsvideoViewEventProp16Value = ""; } jsvideoViewEventEvar20Value = jsvideoViewEventProp16Value; kdp_embed_default = { doKdpEmbed : function() { // Should only be changed if you are running Kaltura On Prem / Kaltura CE: var service_url = "http://cdnapi.kaltura.com/"; // logic cascade for deciding which entry to load var entry_id = this.getEntryIdFromUrl() || this.getEntryIdFromDataAttr() || this.fallback_entry; flashembed(this.placeholder_id, { // attributes and params: id : "kaltura_player_default", src : service_url + "/index.php/kwidget/wid/_" + kdp_embed_default.partner_id + "/uiconf_id/" + kdp_embed_default.uiconf_id + "/entry_id/" + entry_id, height : 361, width : 640, bgcolor : "#000000", allowNetworking : "all", version : [10,0], expressInstall : "http://cdn.kaltura.org/apis/seo/expressinstall.swf" }, { // flashvars (double-quote the values) externalInterfaceDisabled : "false", jsInterfaceReadyFunc : "jsInterfaceReady", contentType: "video", //"restrictUserAgent.restrictedUserAgents": "GoogleTV", referer : "http://abcnews.go.com/US/video/ohio-man-sues-workers-lotto-win-14456694", "omniture.videoViewEventEvar15Value" : "player|storypage", "omniture.videoViewEventProp18Value" : "player|storypage", "omniture.videoViewEventProp16Value" : jsvideoViewEventProp16Value, "omniture.videoViewEventEvar20Value" : jsvideoViewEventEvar20Value, "omniture.adStartEvar15Value" : "player|storypage", "omniture.adStartEvar20Value" : jsvideoViewEventEvar20Value, noThumbnail: true, "shareBtnControllerScreen.enabled" : "true", debugMode: true } ) }, onFail : function() { alert("FLASH EMBEDDING FAILED"); }, getEntryIdFromUrl : function() { if(location.hash.indexOf(kdp_embed_default.url_par am_name) != -1) { // get the entry id from the url document fragment (aka hash): return location.hash.split("#")[1].substring((kdp_embed_default.url_param_name.lengt h+1)); } else if(location.search.indexOf(kdp_embed_default.url_p aram_name) != -1) { // get the entry id from the url parameters (aka querystring): return location.search.split("?")[1].substring((kdp_embed_default.url_param_name.lengt h+1)); } else { // use the default video defined in "fallback_entry" below:// return kdp_embed_default.fallback_entry; return false; } }, getEntryIdFromDataAttr : function() { var data_attr_val = document.getElementById(this.placeholder_id).getAt tribute("data-entryid"); if(data_attr_val && !(data_attr_val < 1)) { return data_attr_val; } else return false; }, on_playerReady : function() { }, on_load : function() { }, on_play : function() { pc.setClipAtts({}); }, on_end : function() { playNextVideo(); }, on_adStart : function() { positionAd(); }, on_adEnd : function() { resetAd(); }, on_mediaReady : function() { //pc.setVolume(); storyPlayer.ready(); }, on_volumeChanged : function() { }, // for supporting using of page as landing page with entry id passed as url parameter: url_param_name : "entryId", placeholder_id : "mediaplayer", fallback_entry : "0_rdnk3ziv", partner_id : 483511, uiconf_id : 3775332, auto_play : false, height : "100%", width : "100%", playButton : false, endCard : false } // embed the player: kdp_embed_default.doKdpEmbed(); function jsInterfaceReady() { return true; } function jsCallbackReady(player_id) { // create a (global) reference to the KDP so we don't have to repeat querying the dom. // we use the "window." prefix as a convention to point out that this var is global window.kdp = document.getElementById(player_id); // @todo: this will fail if kdp_embed has not yet been defined if(!kdp_embed_default.endCard) { kdp.setKDPAttribute("configProxy.flashvars", "screensLayer.endScreenOverId", ""); kdp.setKDPAttribute("configProxy.flashvars", "screensLayer.endScreenId", ""); } if(kdp_embed_default.playButton) { kdp.setKDPAttribute("configProxy.flashvars", "screensLayer.startScreenOverId", "startScreen"); kdp.setKDPAttribute("configProxy.flashvars", "screensLayer.startScreenId", "startScreen"); } else { kdp.setKDPAttribute("configProxy.flashvars", "screensLayer.startScreenOverId", ""); kdp.setKDPAttribute("configProxy.flashvars", "screensLayer.startScreenId", ""); } if(kdp_embed_default.auto_play) { kdp.setKDPAttribute("configProxy.flashvars", "autoPlay", "true"); kdp.setKDPAttribute("configProxy.flashvars", "screensLayer.startScreenOverId", ""); kdp.setKDPAttribute("configProxy.flashvars", "screensLayer.startScreenId", ""); } else { kdp.setKDPAttribute("configProxy.flashvars", "autoPlay", "false"); } kdp.addJsListener("entryReady", "kdp_embed_default.on_load"); kdp.addJsListener("playerPlayed", "kdp_embed_default.on_play"); kdp.addJsListener("playerPlayEnd", "kdp_embed_default.on_end"); kdp.addJsListener("adStart", "kdp_embed_default.on_adStart"); kdp.addJsListener("adEnd", "kdp_embed_default.on_adEnd"); kdp.addJsListener("mediaReady", "kdp_embed_default.on_mediaReady"); kdp_embed_default.on_playerReady(); } storyPlayer = new Object(); storyPlayer.doPlay = false; //player has already played storyPlayer.pos = 'media'; storyPlayer.ready = function() { //console.log ('****************** do play set to ' + storyPlayer.doPlay + ' **************************'); if (!storyPlayer.doPlay) { //initial state (autostart true/false) if (videoAutoStart == 'true') { $('#rel_image_feature').show(); $('#main_media_click').show(); playStoryVideo('media',14456694,true); //console.log ('****************** 1 **************************'); } else { kdp.sendNotification('doStop'); $('#main_media_click').show(); //console.log ('****************** 2 **************************'); } } else { //already engaged (media & leftrail) kdp.sendNotification('doPlay'); storyPlayer.doPlay = true; //console.log ('****************** 3 **************************'); } } getObjPos = function(obj){ var topVal= 0,leftVal= 0; while(obj){ leftVal += obj.offsetLeft; topVal += obj.offsetTop; obj = obj.offsetParent; } return {"left":leftVal,"top":topVal}; } positionPlayer = function(obj){ objPos = $(obj).offset(); storyCoreObjPos = $('#story_core').offset(); mediaplayerObjPos = $('#mediaplayerContainer').offset(); $('#mediaplayerContainer').css('position', 'absolute'); $('#mediaplayerContainer').css('z-index', '1003'); $('#mediaplayerContainer').offset({top: objPos.top, left: objPos.left}); mediaplayerObjPosNew = $('#mediaplayerContainer').offset(); } sendPlaylistToPlayer = function(){ if (!storyPlayer.doPlay && storyPlayer.pos == 'media') { //video already loaded kdp.sendNotification('doPlay'); $('#rel_image_feature').show(); $('#main_media_click').show(); } else { // need to change media pc.playVideoByCID({id:currentVideoId}); } storyPlayer.doPlay = true; $('#'+currLeftRailId+' > .rel_active > .active_image_closer').css("visibility","visible") ; } playerLockedState = true; playerLocked = function(){ return playerLockedState; } playStoryVideo = function(id,videoId,repos){ storyPlayer.pos = id; if (id == 'media' && videoAutoStart == 'true') { kdp.setKDPAttribute("omniture", "videoViewEvent", "event1,event16"); } else { kdp.setKDPAttribute("omniture", "videoViewEvent", "event1"); } pc.fwUpdateKeyValues("show",window.playlist["adContext-"+videoId]); currentVideoId = videoId; playDelay = (repos)?500:6000; setTimeout("sendPlaylistToPlayer()",playDelay); if(repos){ leftRailVideoOpen = (id == 'media')?false:true; if(id == 'media'){ leftRailVideoOpen = false; $('#caption_video').html(videoTitle); }else{ $('#caption_video').html(videoPhotoCaption); } kdp.sendNotification("doStop"); if(currLeftRailId){ leftRail.closeMedia(currLeftRailId); } leftRail.openMedia(id,currentVideoId); leftRailContainerObj = document.getElementById(id); positionPlayer(leftRailContainerObj); mainMedia.sponsoredByAdPosition(); currLeftRailId = id; } if (leftRailVideoOpen == false) { $('#caption_video').html(videoTitle); } } closeLeftRailVideo = function(id){ leftRail.closeMedia(id); leftRailVideoOpen = false; videoTitle = titleList[0]; kdp.sendNotification("doStop"); $('#mediaplayerContainer').css('top', '-1000px'); resetAd(); } playNextVideo = function(){ playlistStr = playlistIds; if(playlistStr != ''){ if(playlistStr.indexOf('~') != -1){ playlistArr = playlistStr.split('~'); for(i=0;i






Share


Comments
Print
Font Sizes






</DIV>
By ALYSSA NEWCOMB
Sept. 6, 2011




digGetAd("SponsoredByLogo");
What are the chances that a back injury will cost you millions? For Edward Hairston, the odds are about 1 in 175 million.

The logistics agent at an Ohio, cabinet business is suing his 22 co-workers to receive what he claims is his share of a $99 million lottery prize.

Hairston, declined ABCNews.com's request for an interview, claimed in a lawsuit that he participated in the office lottery pool for eight years with his colleagues, before a back injury put him out of work in June, July and August. The group matched all six winning numbers on Aug. 5.

His attorney, Howard Mishkind, told ABCNews.com there was an implied agreement that co-workers would cover for each other when they were out due to illness or vacation.

"All because of $15, it's now costing him $2 million," Mishkind said.
He added that Hairston even contributed for a co-worker who was out on a leave of absence.

But Kerin Lyn Kaminski, the lawyer representing the 22 winners, told ABCNews.com that wasn't the case.

"The plaintiff didn't play for three months and despite being invited to do so through email he chose not to put money in, therefore he can't be a winner," she said.

Mishkind disputed the claim saying the email was sent to a company address which Hairston could not access from home.

Tim Boyle/Bloomberg/Getty Images
A Mega Millions number selection card lies on... View Full Size


Tim Boyle/Bloomberg/Getty Images
A Mega Millions number selection card lies on the counter at a lottery ticket kiosk at O'Hare International Airport in Chicago, Illinois, in this Aug. 31, 2007 file photo.







Lottery Winner's Dilemma Watch Video




Lottery Winners Cash In Masks Watch Video




Michigan Couple Sparks Lottery Probe Watch Video





A judge in Cuyahoga County Common Pleas Court ordered the Ohio Lottery Commission to set aside a portion of the jackpot in the event Hairston won his case. Kaminski said all parties agreed to the move in exchange for a swift resolution of the lawsuit, which will go to trial in December.
This isn't the first time office lottery pools have been contested by absentee co-workers.

In 2005, the so-called "Lucky Seven" group of lab technicians, who had won California's second-largest jackpot ever, were smacked with lawsuits from four co-workers claiming they were entitled to a share of the $315 million Mega Millions jackpot.

A judge ultimately dismissed all four lawsuits.

In 2008, four Piqua, Ohio city workers sued their colleagues, who won $207 million in the Mega Millions lottery, claiming -- like the others, that they weren't at work to contribute to the pool but felt comfortable their co-workers would cover for them. A judge dismissed the suit in September 2009.

In Florida, Jeanette French said not only did her Golf Shop co-workers cover for her while she was away, but she even paid back the $1 they chipped in for her the next day when she returned to the store.

French's seven co-workers won $16 million in the Florida State Lottery last December-- but when it came time to claim the prize, French was left out.

"She had communication with one of the other employees who said he would put in a dollar for her," French's lawyer, Tom Culmo told ABCNews.com. "Employees would routinely cover for each other. She paid back the dollar Thursday morning, and she was given the ticket to check to see if they had won."

French's case is still in litigation.

With history on their side, the 22 newly-minted millionaires are preparing to go to trial in December. Kaminski, the winners' lawyer, said she thinks they have a solid case, saying the lottery commission sums it up best:

"You can't win if you don't play."

ABC News' Olivia Katrandjian contributed to this report
</DIV>

[Gamma]

what does he have to lose?!

[Sickko]

$15

[Bruce]

Courts usually do not enforce gambling agreements among individuals.

[Sickko]

How does the pool thing work though, always heard about them but not sure how it benefits the individuals if you can go and buy your own numbers for $1

[Gamma]

m nuh know .... dem mussi contribute numba whey dem dream .....

[MdmeX]

How does the pool thing work though, always heard about them but not sure how it benefits the individuals if you can go and buy your own numbers for $1

When you're in a pool, you have more chances. We do a pool at work, (when the stakes are high) - 20 of us. But if you are not in on the day we decide to buy, then you're excluded

[Sickko]

The question was HOW does the pool work, do you combine numbers or put money and buy more tickets???

[Bruce]

i guess it varies among groups. The group probably buys "quick pick" tickets.

[Gamma]

that is relevant as to WHO constitute the pool i.e. what makes a person a member. in other words if it is understood or agreed that week in week out we will purchase 15 tickets (there are 15 persons) then if 15 tickets are purchased but only 14 are at work then somebody likely to get ZIG!

it seems that it is just an agreement that they will all purchase these tickets to the mutual benefit of all of instead of each individual purchasing a ticket on his or her own behalf.

[Sickko]

How hard it would be for the 15th person to give some one his $1 bill to make sure his cut is accounted for?

[Gamma]

even if he did not, if there are 14 persons and they buy 15 tickets there is a reasonable inference that it was intended to include him then his chances of recovery improves. if they only bought 14 tickets...him corner dark!!

[MdmeX]

The question was HOW does the pool work, do you combine numbers or put money and buy more tickets???

In my case, we just put money and buy more tickets!

[MdmeX]

even if he did not, if there are 14 persons and they buy 15 tickets there is a reasonable inference that it was intended to include him then his chances of recovery improves. if they only bought 14 tickets...him corner dark!!

In his case, it was $15.00 per person for the pool, so him shoudda leff him money..........

And since he was out for 3 months, why didn't he contact one of his gambling buddies to put in his money