And the winner is …
Chase the Ace lottery winner taking her case to court
A Cape Breton lottery winner is going to court seeking the entirety of a $1.2-million prize that she says was wrongfully split with her nephew.
A lawsuit filed in Supreme Court in Port Hawkesbury on Thursday alleges that Barbara Ann Reddick is the sole winner of a recent Chase the Ace jackpot in Margaree.
The Guysborough woman claims to have e-transferred money to her nephew, Tyrone MacInnis, and instructed him to use $100 toward purchasing her tickets.
MacInnis travelled nearly two hours from his home in Glace Bay on the day before the draw was to take place July 10.
According to a statement of claim, Reddick had instructed the 19-year-old university student to write his name somewhere on her tickets for good luck.
Reddick’s lawyer Adam Rodgers said the case begs the question of whether an enforceable contract was reached between the two parties.
“In many cases if somebody is playing the lottery … they might make an offhand comment of who they might give something to,” said Rodgers.
“That kind of promise, even if it’s given - and in this case it wasn’t - that’s not an enforceable contract in any way.”
A sworn affidavit from Reddick claims that MacInnis had won other draws, so family members have always said his name was lucky.
Reddick said there was no discussion or agreement between them about splitting the winnings. She also claims MacInnis put his home phone number on the tickets without her instruction or permission.
Reddick said MacInnis purchased pickets for himself but did not include her name.
After making the purchase, MacInnis sent Reddick a video of her tickets. She later responded by text message with ‘I hope we win.’
Reddick says she meant that she hoped either his tickets or her tickets would be picked.
“If people split on tickets they buy them together — well, they split the prize,” said Rodgers. “But in this case Mrs. Reddick purchased the tickets with her own money.”
Reddick spoke to her nephew when both were in Margaree following the big win. She claims MacInnis answered “No, but’s it’s just like the 50-50,” when asked if they ever talked about splitting the prize.
Reddick says her nephew was referring to a weekly 50-50 hockey draw in Glace Bay that she offered to share if she ever won.
Following the discovery of two names on the $1.2-million winning ticket, Margaree officials divided the prize into two cheques for $611,319.50.
Now referred to as Aunt Barb by many people on social media, Reddick is seeking the return of all Chase the Ace winnings along with costs related to the lawsuit.
She said MacInnis was like a son to her who she’d helped pay bills. Items purchased for her nephew included a new PlayStation, graduation suit and car.
Having no children of her own, Reddick is said to have provided $100 a month in spending money so MacInnis would not have to live like a student.
Rodgers said this financial information is important to the legal proceeding, as it helps provide context to Reddick’s reaction following the win. According to the court documents, Reddick and MacInnis are no longer speaking.
“It is unfortunate, and Mrs. Reddick is quite saddened by it,” said Rodgers. “And I know from speaking with her that she would hope that that relationship is redeemable because she still has a great deal of affection for Tyrone.”
After the lawsuit is resolved, Reddick’s lawyer said she hopes she and MacInnis can re-establish their close relationship.
Reddick is retired after serving in the Canadian Armed Forces as a supply technician in the navy for 23 years.
As part of the legal proceedings, a motion has been filed to prevent any prize money awarded to MacInnis from being spent or transferred.
A hearing on the matter take place Aug. 10 in Port Hawkesbury.
A message sent to MacInnis for comment was unreturned Friday afternoon.
Rodgers said his client wished to refrain from commenting on the case until after the upcoming motion is heard.