Life Lottery Winner needs to share $15 mill with soon-to-be ex-wife

Amnorix · 06-21-2019, 02:14 PM

Ouch!

https://www.cnn.com/2019/06/21/us/lo...rnd/index.html

(CNN)A Michigan lottery winner must share the $38 million windfall with his ex-wife, even though they were in the process of divorcing when he bought the ticket.

Richard Zelasko won an $80 million Mega Millions jackpot in July 2013 -- after taxes and fees his prize was $38,873,628, according to an opinion issued last week by the Michigan Court of Appeals.

The suburban Detroit man and his then-wife, Mary Elizabeth Zelasko, filed for divorce in late 2011. The case had gone to arbitration, and they were waiting for the arbitrator's opinion when Richard Zelasko won the prize.

The couple were married in 2004 and have three children.

The arbitrator ruled that the ticket was part of the couple's marital assets and awarded $15 million to the wife and divided the rest of their assets, according to the opinion. He said that the "marital property includes all property acquired from the date of marriage until the date of entry of the divorce decree," including property acquired during a separation.

The court also cited the arbitrator's opinion that the winning lottery ticket was probably not the first that Richard Zelesko had purchased during the marriage and that "(a)s losses throughout the marriage were incurred jointly, so should winnings be shared jointly."

It's true that Zelasko spent $1 to buy the winning ticket; however, "the dollar spent was arguably marital money and, as such, a joint investment," the arbitrator said.

The appellate court said it found no errors that would require it to change the award.

"It's very difficult to overturn an arbitration," said Michael Robbins, who's represented Richard Zelasko since 2015.

Robbins told CNN that the couple had been separated since 2009.

An attorney for Mary Elizabeth Zelasko told CNN that he would not comment on the case because it is confidential.

The couple's divorce was finalized in 2018.

Robbins said his client can appeal the ruling and is "considering his options."

Amnorix · 06-21-2019, 02:16 PM

Putting on my lawyer hat, sadly I think it would be the same result under the divorce laws of most US states. The bottom line is that until the divorce is final, the martial assets are pooled and so even though the divorce is pending, the lottery winnings become part of the estate.

**loochy** · 06-21-2019, 02:18 PM

Meh, he'll still be fine.

LiveSteam · 06-21-2019, 02:20 PM

So for a buck. The man rid himself of an all-time nag and gets 15 million to boot.
If that ain't winning? I don't know what is.

Hydrae · 06-21-2019, 02:28 PM

Wow, took them 7 years from time of filing to be able to finalize the divorce. That seems crazy long to me.

DJ's left nut · 06-21-2019, 02:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Amnorix

Putting on my lawyer hat, sadly I think it would be the same result under the divorce laws of most US states. The bottom line is that until the divorce is final, the martial assets are pooled and so even though the divorce is pending, the lottery winnings become part of the estate.

I have to point out that very fact a couple times a month.

Separated ain't divorced, chief. And to whatever extent a statute applies to 'spouses', be it rights to property or obligations on debts, that statute applies until such time as the divorce is final.

His wasn't yet.

He lost here because he was supposed to. Sucks, but it is what it is...

Imon Yourside · 06-21-2019, 02:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LiveSteam

So for a buck. The man rid himself of an all-time nag and gets 15 million to boot.
If that ain't winning? I don't know what is.

Right, I'm willing to take on that horrible responsibility.

**BigRedChief** · 06-21-2019, 02:41 PM

She’s the mother of his children. Your still married. Should have given her the $15 million and moved on. If you can’t make your own $15 million last you the rest of your life? Your going it wrong.

ChiliConCarnage · 06-21-2019, 02:41 PM

Seems fair. People get separated or start divorces and reconcile all the time. Until you're divorced, you're married.

Wonder if he'll still owe alimony? That'd be the real nut punch after writing a multi-million dollar check to her

vailpass · 06-21-2019, 02:44 PM

This is how there are still such things as hit men.

Graystoke · 06-21-2019, 02:46 PM

Still married.
He should have hurried the proceedings.
But hey, 15 cool million to spend on hookers and blow

**Saulbadguy** · 06-21-2019, 02:50 PM

Can he sue the arbitrator for 15 million?

InChiefsHeaven · 06-21-2019, 02:52 PM

Shit, giver her half and smile. You got 15 mil that you did nothing to earn. Take it and be happy.

OrtonsPiercedTaint · 06-21-2019, 03:03 PM

Tax her Trump!

saphojunkie · 06-21-2019, 03:14 PM

I’m going through a divorce right now. If I won $38M I would be so happy to show up at my ex’s place with a check for $19M. Here you go! Have fun, be happy, and cheers to a resentment-free life.

Of course, I’m still great friends with my ex. But even if you hate each other, you can fix all
That acrimony in one gesture and go live your single, wealthy life in peace.

06-21-2019, 02:14 PM
Amnorix In BB I trust Join Date: May 2003 Location: Boston, Mass. Casino cash: $10029808	Lottery Winner needs to share $15 mill with soon-to-be ex-wife Ouch! https://www.cnn.com/2019/06/21/us/lo...rnd/index.html (CNN)A Michigan lottery winner must share the $38 million windfall with his ex-wife, even though they were in the process of divorcing when he bought the ticket. Richard Zelasko won an $80 million Mega Millions jackpot in July 2013 -- after taxes and fees his prize was $38,873,628, according to an opinion issued last week by the Michigan Court of Appeals. The suburban Detroit man and his then-wife, Mary Elizabeth Zelasko, filed for divorce in late 2011. The case had gone to arbitration, and they were waiting for the arbitrator's opinion when Richard Zelasko won the prize. The couple were married in 2004 and have three children. The arbitrator ruled that the ticket was part of the couple's marital assets and awarded $15 million to the wife and divided the rest of their assets, according to the opinion. He said that the "marital property includes all property acquired from the date of marriage until the date of entry of the divorce decree," including property acquired during a separation. The court also cited the arbitrator's opinion that the winning lottery ticket was probably not the first that Richard Zelesko had purchased during the marriage and that "(a)s losses throughout the marriage were incurred jointly, so should winnings be shared jointly." It's true that Zelasko spent $1 to buy the winning ticket; however, "the dollar spent was arguably marital money and, as such, a joint investment," the arbitrator said. The appellate court said it found no errors that would require it to change the award. "It's very difficult to overturn an arbitration," said Michael Robbins, who's represented Richard Zelasko since 2015. Robbins told CNN that the couple had been separated since 2009. An attorney for Mary Elizabeth Zelasko told CNN that he would not comment on the case because it is confidential. The couple's divorce was finalized in 2018. Robbins said his client can appeal the ruling and is "considering his options."
Posts: 43,125

06-21-2019, 02:16 PM	#2
Amnorix In BB I trust Join Date: May 2003 Location: Boston, Mass. Casino cash: $10029808	Putting on my lawyer hat, sadly I think it would be the same result under the divorce laws of most US states. The bottom line is that until the divorce is final, the martial assets are pooled and so even though the divorce is pending, the lottery winnings become part of the estate. __________________ "I love signature blocks on the Internet. I get to put whatever the hell I want in quotes, pick a pretend author, and bang, it's like he really said it." George Washington
Posts: 43,125

06-21-2019, 02:18 PM	#3
loochy Hey Loochy, I'm hooome! Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: PooPooKaKaPeePeeShire Casino cash: $-1539603	Meh, he'll still be fine.
Posts: 42,042

06-21-2019, 02:20 PM	#4
LiveSteam The Constitutional Choo choo Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: homeof43conferencetitles Casino cash: $-1474568	So for a buck. The man rid himself of an all-time nag and gets 15 million to boot. If that ain't winning? I don't know what is. __________________ Progressivism.. The Politically Correct way of saying "I'm a Communist slash Nazi" depending on what the issue of the day is?
Posts: 44,692	3 1

06-21-2019, 02:28 PM	#5
Hydrae MVP Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: Newport, Or Casino cash: $-983000	Wow, took them 7 years from time of filing to be able to finalize the divorce. That seems crazy long to me.
Posts: 14,853

06-21-2019, 02:41 PM	#8
BigRedChief Has a particular set of skills Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: On the water Casino cash: $-581038 VARSITY	She’s the mother of his children. Your still married. Should have given her the $15 million and moved on. If you can’t make your own $15 million last you the rest of your life? Your going it wrong. __________________ Mahomes is not a game manager. Release the Kraken.
Posts: 81,262

06-21-2019, 02:41 PM	#9
ChiliConCarnage TACO SALAD Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: yes Casino cash: $-1891532	Seems fair. People get separated or start divorces and reconcile all the time. Until you're divorced, you're married. Wonder if he'll still owe alimony? That'd be the real nut punch after writing a multi-million dollar check to her
Posts: 7,049

06-21-2019, 02:44 PM	#10
vailpass Psycho Bag Of Squanch Join Date: Sep 2001 Casino cash: $9594244	This is how there are still such things as hit men. __________________ “Education is a weapon whose effect depends on who holds it in his hands and at whom it is aimed.” Joseph Stalin
Posts: 69,591	1 0

06-21-2019, 02:46 PM	#11
Graystoke MVP Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Driftless Region Casino cash: $-2440000	Still married. He should have hurried the proceedings. But hey, 15 cool million to spend on hookers and blow
Posts: 9,607

06-21-2019, 02:50 PM	#12
Saulbadguy When a nightmare becomes real Join Date: Nov 2003 Casino cash: $736966	Can he sue the arbitrator for 15 million? __________________ http://www.goemaw.com
Posts: 47,020

06-21-2019, 02:52 PM	#13
InChiefsHeaven Rockin' yer FACE OFF! Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Omaha, Nebraska Casino cash: $755437	Shit, giver her half and smile. You got 15 mil that you did nothing to earn. Take it and be happy. __________________ We have a million reasons for failure, but not one excuse... Die Donks, DIE!! Holy Crap fellas!!! We did it!!! THREE TIMES!!!
Posts: 27,184

06-21-2019, 03:03 PM	#14
OrtonsPiercedTaint MVP Join Date: Dec 2012 Casino cash: $10004980	Tax her Trump!
Posts: 5,994

06-21-2019, 03:14 PM	#15
saphojunkie MVP Join Date: Aug 2011 Casino cash: $2356550	I’m going through a divorce right now. If I won $38M I would be so happy to show up at my ex’s place with a check for $19M. Here you go! Have fun, be happy, and cheers to a resentment-free life. Of course, I’m still great friends with my ex. But even if you hate each other, you can fix all That acrimony in one gesture and go live your single, wealthy life in peace.
Posts: 12,907	1 0