Trust broken over $1.35 billion as Mega Millions lottery winner sues own family
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Imagine winning a staggering $1.35 Billion in the Mega Millions jackpot and then finding yourself in the middle of a courtroom drama.
This is the real-life story of January’s lottery jackpot winner who has filed a lawsuit against a close family member, unfolding a tale that seems straight out of a movie.
Fourth Largest Prize
In February, the anonymous winner from Maine stepped forward to claim the fourth-largest lottery jackpot in history.
The man won $1.35 billion from the Mega Millions drawing on January 13, 2023.
He chose the lump sum payment of $723.56 million, and after taxes, received just over $404 million.
To protect his identity, the winner chose to claim the prize under a trust.
However, this privacy is now at risk due to a legal battle with the mother of his child, "Sara Smith," who he accuses of breaking a non-disclosure agreement (NDA).
The NDA, signed by "Sara" on February 8, two weeks before the prize was claimed, required her to keep the jackpot win a secret to protect the winner's identity, location, assets, and their daughter until June 1, 2032.
In return, the winner, known as "John Doe" in the lawsuit, promised to provide support and security resources.
Sara Spilled The Beans
Despite this agreement, "Sara" allegedly disclosed the win to the winner's father and stepmother, which led to his sister and potentially others learning of it.
The lawsuit accuses her of causing "irreparable injury" to the winner by jeopardizing his public identity and safety.
The winner's legal team stated, "Our client took every measure to protect their privacy after winning the lottery. The breach of the NDA by a trusted individual is a violation of trust and a legal matter that we intend to pursue vigorously."
Legal experts highlight this case as an example of the importance of NDAs, especially involving significant sums of money.
Problems Ahead
They note that breaches can lead to serious legal consequences, including monetary damages and attorney fees.
The lawsuit demands that "Sara" reveal everyone she informed and pay a $100,000 fine for each violation of the NDA, plus attorney fees and court costs.
As the case unfolds, it remains to be seen how the court will rule.
The outcome could set a precedent for NDAs in situations involving lottery winners and their families.
This shows the complexities of sudden wealth and the importance of legal agreements.
"We wish them well and hope they do good things with it," said a representative for the winner back in February. But it has all turned out quite differently.
