Mega Millions Winner Sues Mother Who Revealed Win to Family

Winning the lottery can be a dream come true for many people. However, what happens when that dream turns into a nightmare? This win is often seen as a life-changing event but can also bring about unexpected problems.

In this case, this Mega Millions winner’s partner and the mother of his child breached his trust and privacy. She did so by sharing his big win with their entire family. She is now facing a lawsuit. But, how did all of this happen?

Mega Millions Lawsuit: How Did It Come to This?

On January 2023, a Maine man secured a life-changing $1.35 billion Mega Millions jackpot. He opted for a lump-sum payment of $723,564,144 after purchasing the historic winning ticket at Hometown Gas & Grill in Lebanon. However, the elation of his windfall turned into a legal tussle. He filed a federal lawsuit against the mother of his daughter.

The plaintiff, who has chosen to remain anonymous, alleges that Sara Smith, the mother of his child, breached a non-disclosure agreement (NDA). She did so by disclosing the jackpot win to family members. According to court documents shared by The Daily Beast, Smith reportedly signed the NDA, which obligated her to maintain confidentiality about the windfall until June 2032 — the stipulated time when their daughter reaches the age of 18.

The lawsuit seeks legal recourse for the alleged violation of the NDA. It remains to be seen how this legal drama will unfold and what impact it might have on the relationships within the family.

He Stated He Wanted No Reveal

The Maine Lottery Association disclosed the man’s $1.35 billion Mega Millions jackpot win in a statement on Feb. 22, 2023, nearly six weeks after the drawing, as reported by The Boston Globe. Despite this revelation, the winner’s identity remains undisclosed, even to lottery officials. A representative for the winner mentioned at the time that the fortunate individual was carefully considering the best ways to utilize the life-changing prize. Michael Boardman, deputy director of the Maine Bureau of Alcoholic Beverages & Lottery Operation, acknowledged the desire for anonymity. He expressed well wishes and hoped that the winner would use the windfall for positive endeavors.

According to the lawsuit filed on Tuesday, it is claimed that Sara Smith, the mother of the Mega Millions winner’s daughter, disclosed the jackpot win during “one or more telephone communications” with the winner’s father and stepmother in September. Additionally, the man’s sister is reported to have also become aware of his substantial windfall.

How Is the Mega Millions Winner Able to Sue?

The Maine man, identified as John Doe in the court document, is pursuing legal action to obtain the names of individuals who received “unauthorized” disclosures about his Mega Millions win. He is also seeking compensatory damages, with the exact amount to be determined at trial but not less than $100,000 per unauthorized disclosure, according to The Daily Beast.

The lawsuit claims that the defendant’s unauthorized disclosures have caused irreparable harm to John Doe, and there is an immediate and imminent threat of ongoing irreparable injury for which there is no sufficient legal remedy. The man’s attorney, Gregory Brown, has refrained from commenting on the case to PEOPLE.

Would you have sued your own partner if they told everyone about your Mega Millions win?

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