For almost 4 years, a couple from Alberta has been involved in a lawsuit for a share of a Super 7 lottery jackpot. The couple trusted some friends to pitch in for them in lotteries pool, and that trust has cost them $1.64 million. A few days ago, Justice Suzanne Bensler said that Michael and Catherince Clancy should not be entitled to a part of the $20 million jackpot which was won on November 23, 2007. National lottery

“The plaintiffs’ story is sad,” Justice Bensler stated. “They have convinced me that they sincerely thought that their friends would ensure that they would be in the draw every time.” However, that wasn’t enough to give the Clancy’s the right to a part of the jackpot. Lottery numbers

“For their friends and acquaintances … money became more important than friendship,” Bensler added.

“One must be reminded that the defendants’ wealth was acquired by luck, not by hard work,” Justice Suzanne Bensler concluded. “This though does not give right to two or even one share of the lottery winnings.”

The couple always contributed to the pool whenever the jackpot went over $10 million, but they did not show up for that particular drawing. 21 people did pay for tickets then, and only 1, Albert Johnson, decided that the two should also receive a share of the money. As a result, he settled with the Clancys and gave them $100,000 out of his $952,000 share. Lottery checker

Brian Clark, the Clancys’ lawyer, said that the members of the lottery group decided many years later that they would always cover for each other if any of them would not be able to pay in time. However, Justice Bensler stated that their agreement could not provide a legal claim for what the couple wanted.

“The plaintiffs have not convinced me that there was an acceptance from the members of the core group or that there was a legally binding agreement in place,” Bensler said.

She said that even though the six original members of the lottery group had a deal with each other, it did not apply to all the new players who later joined. As a direct result, all the paying members of the lottery group received an additional $85,815. That was the sum each of them would have had to give the Clancys.