News writer
A Maine lottery winner sued the mother of his child after she allegedly disclosed his identity in violation of a non-disclosure agreement.
Now, in an ironic twist, the winner may have to divulge his name to the wider public in court - thanks to his own lawsuit, according to WMTW.
U.S. District Court Judge John Woodcock ruled that, if the issue goes to trial, the lottery winner will not be allowed to use a pseudonym in court records. The judge also ruled on April 10 that the trial will not be closed to the public, either, citing that wealth was not a good enough reason to restrict public access.
The win spurred a messy tangle of family drama involving the winner's parents, who turned against him in the lawsuit.
The big win
A Mega Millions winner out of Maine won $1.35 billion dollars in the January 14 drawing, claiming the prize anonymously through a company called LaKoma Island Investments. He had chosen the numbers 30, 43,45, 46, and 61, and a gold Mega Ball 14.
It was the fourth-largest Mega Millions jackpot win in history. John Doe collected his winnings over a month later.
Alleged breach of NDA
In the lawsuit, filed in November 2023, John Doe said he told his baby's mother about his lottery win. He had her sign a non-disclosure agreement, demanding the win be kept secret from anyone else. The NDA was put in place to protect him and their daughter, the lawsuit claims, and would be enforced until their daughter turns 18 in 2032.
The suit alleges that the baby's mother, named the alias Sara Smith in court documents, breached the NDA by telling the winner's father, stepmother, and sister the previous September. John Doe is demanding $100,000 from Smith for every alleged breach.
Smith claims that the winner himself told his family - not her. Smith's account has been corroborated by his father in court documents.
Father turned against son
John Doe's father not only defended Sara Smith in separately filed court documents, but he also alleged his son broke promises to use his big win to help the family.
The father claims that, right after the win - months before Sara Smith allegedly blabbed - John Doe told his father that he won a large amount of money in the Maine lottery. John Doe allegedly made promises, including that he would use the money to pay family medical bills and set up million-dollar trust funds for his father and stepmother.
These promises were never upheld, his father claims, and John Doe demanded that the family never speak to Sara Smith. There is now a major interpersonal rift in the family.
In court documents, John Doe expressed regrets on his side, admitting that at some point, he did tell his father about the win. Mr Doe said in court documents:
I made the mistake of telling my father that I had won the lottery without having him sign a confidentiality agreement. Our relationship deteriorated quickly thereafter. I did not tell him what I was doing with my money, how I was going to benefit my daughter, or any facts other than the simple fact that I had won.
Safety concerns
John Doe claims he is scared for his safety and the safety of his daughter, saying he hired a security team to follow them. If his lawsuit against Sara Smith goes to trial, everyone will know his name.
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