Ohio Mega Millions Winners Settle Lawsuit

Posted on January 18th, 2012

Back in September 2011 22 workers at an Ohio cabinet business hit it big and won a $99 million Mega Millions lottery jackpot. Shortly after the win a former member of the lottery syndicate sued the syndicate members for a share of the jackpot. Edward Hairston claimed he was owed a share of the jackpot because every month for eight years he kicked in $5 to purchase lottery tickets. While Hairston was recuperating from a back injury he failed to make his usual contribution in June, July and August. Each member of the group stood to receive about $2 million. Hairston showed up the next day to claim his share and was told that because he had made no contributions for three months he was no longer a part of the group.

The group had an unwritten policy to cover for co workers who were unable to make their usual payments because of illness, vacations and other reasons. On at least one occasion the group made payments for an absent co worker for five months and Hairston had covered for a missing co worker out of his own pockets. Kerin Lyn Kaminski, a lawyer representing the winners, said their decision was nothing personal and that two members that played in July but not in August when the group hit the jackpot are not suing the group.

This week a settlement was reached between the group and Hairston. Cuyahoga County Common Pleas Judge Eileen T. Gallagher said that attorneys for Hairston and the group had worked out an agreement. Gallagher declined to disclose the terms of the settlement. Attorneys for both sides could not be reached for comments. Earlier Gallagher had ordered the Ohio Lottery Commission to withhold $2 million dollars until the case was settled.