Winner of $560 Million Sues to Remain Anonymous

[laserhaas]

A $560 million lottery ticket is in jeopardy as the winner risks her fortune to remain anonymous.

After winning the Powerball a month ago, one woman has yet to cash in.

In New Hampshire, an unidentified woman won a Powerball jackpot of $559.7 million in January - but she still hasn't claimed her winnings. NewHampshire.com has received court documents that a Jane Doe wishes to receive the jackpot winnings while remaining anonymous, which is not usually allowed.

The New Hampshire Lottery Commission requires that lottery winners write their name, address, and telephone number on the back of the lucky ticket. The woman who won the $560 million jackpot quickly signed her name on the back, but has called that a "huge mistake."

The winner could have remained anonymous had the ticket been signed in the name of a trust, but Jane Doe was not aware she could do that before she wrote her own name. After learning she won the jackpot, the woman went to the lottery's website and read the rules before discussing the situation with legal counsel.


https://amp-businessinsider-com.cdn.ampproject.org/c/s/amp.businessinsider.com/lottery-winner-demands-anonymity-2018-2

12 votes, 0 passes | Time left: Unlimited
	She should be able to stay anonymous
	12 (100%)
	No..her name must be published
	0 (0%)
	Who cares
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[gopiscrap]

1. when you play the lottery

you know that if you win, you're name will be published, it's part of the contract to accept winnings...if you don't want your name out, don't play or play and just claim winnings under 600

[laserhaas]

3. Not true. She could have named a Trust

That would keep her name anonymous

[GWC58]

4. I would guess that would depend on

the state. I’m sure if I won I’d try to keep my name, and photo, on the QT. In Maryland you can stay anonymous. Pretty sure Mr. Abraham Shakespeare wishes Florida didn’t publish winners names. He got swindled, then murdered, by a no good goldigger. A skanky, scummie scammer.

[malaise]

14. That was so sad

[LanternWaste]

6. Your allegations are inaccurate.

Your allegations are inaccurate, and fall short of additional, relevant statutes of privacy particular to different states.

"if you don't want your inaccuracies pointed out, don't post or post in the middle of the night..." (I figured if it was applicable to the one, consistency would maintain the application, and it is!)

[LisaM]

2. I think that if it was okay for her to set up an anonymous company beforehand...

then she certainly should be given the opportunity to do it within a fixed timeframe afterwards (say, 90 days or something). Yes, we're getting into the spirit of the law versus the letter of the law, but I am a firm believer in the spirit of the law versus some arbitrary fixed deadline.

[laserhaas]

5. Concur

The issue of announcing the name, is to assure no Lottery malarkey occurs.

What does it matter, as long as it is clear there was a bona fide winner.

[Buns_of_Fire]

7. As Ms. Anonymous' long lost nephew, I applaud her decision.

As a matter of fact, I applaud everything she does. Except misspelling my name on the check she'll be sending me any day now.

[laserhaas]

10. Ha Ha

You cad..😛

[malaise]

8. She should have read the terms on the ticket

You are not allowed to remain anonymous. Here, lots of folks disguise themselves for the photo and use a middle name.

[extvbroadcaster]

9. Depends on the state

Some states let you be anonymous, others require you disclose your name. The whole thing seems crazy. With that kind of money she can move anywhere in the world, and take her friends with her.

[TexasBushwhacker]

11. I heard an attorney suggest you get your name changed legally

before cashing in. I don't know how long that would take, but it might be worth it.

[ProudLib72]

13. Wouldn't you change your name after cashing in?

That seems like the way to do it.

[TexasBushwhacker]

15. You change it before cashing in to discourage "friends"

Let's say Jane Doe wins the lottery. Her real name is published and every person she's had any casual contact with shows up with their hand out. She could change her name but she'll have to leave town. If she changes her name to Karen Smith, that's the name that will get published. She could still live in the same place because people will look for Karen Smith, not Jane Doe.

[ProudLib72]

18. I guess that makes sense

I'll need to remember this for the next time I win a few million.

I've discussed sharing the wealth many times with my students. In fact, I was discussing it with a student this morning before class. I might be suddenly surrounded by "friends" I previously taught if I win.

[TexasBushwhacker]

20. What do you teach? I was a science teacher for 9 years

I've read about people whose lives were ruined by winning the lottery. The thing they had in common was they spent all the money on themselves. The people who became philanthropists were quite happy.

[ProudLib72]

21. I teach English composition at the community college

The student I was talking to this morning works as a CNA. She wants to become a RN. At first she told me she would be happy with half a million. Then she said something about 45 million (I'm not really sure where the figure came from). I told her that if I won 45 million, I would give her the half million. She quickly changed her tune, telling me I should give her a million because I would certainly be able to afford it.

[TexasBushwhacker]

22. Amazing how greedy people can be with other people's money n/t

[ProudLib72]

23. I reminded her that, five minutes before, she did not want more than half a million

Theoretical money is fun to play with!

[Grammy23]

12. For most of the lotteries I know about,

you have a reasonable amount of time to respond to the lottery officials with the winning ticket. You have plenty of time to set up a trust, change your name, buy a disguise or anything else you are advised to do before claiming the money. This lady’s problem was that she quickly signed the ticket before fully understanding what that might imply (her name being made public). I fully understand her desire to remain anonymous given how lottery winners are hounded, scammed and hoodwinked for far less money than she won. Maybe a good attorney can help her out before her name & face gets plastered on billboards .

[BannonsLiver]

16. Of FFS

You’ve got hundreds of millions of dollars, hire a personal security detail for a few months until the hullabaloo dies down and get on with your life. Reading the ticket and knowing the law AKA being informed is also helpful. I have zero sympathy. None.

[McCamy Taylor]

17. Could be unhappily married and does not want her spouse to get a cent.

Could also be someone who is either being sued or is in danger of being sued. Could be massively in debt. Or (the one I think is most likely) she could be a minor too young to gamble.

[BannonsLiver]

19. From reading the article it doesnt indicate any of that

It paints a picture of an adult active in her community who wants the money but none of the notierty. Can’t say I blame them but then again if I’m in her shoes I think I’d figure out a way to overcome it.