NY man claims friend broke deal to split lottery prize, files lawsuit

Aug 4, 2015, 8:27 am (19 comments)

New York Lottery

A Queens, New York, man claims one of his best friends is bilking him out of hundreds of thousands of dollars, after improbably striking the jackpot on a lottery ticket the two had agreed to split — and refusing to share the million dollar bounty.

Terry Hollenquest, 52, a barber and business consultant, alleges that he and his neighbor and longtime buddy Leonard (John) Owens hatched the get-rich plan a year ago.

The two men would play the lotto every day, under the agreement that if either somehow won big — more than $100,000 — and they still lived next to each other, they would split it the take.

"If I were to leave and move to the Poconos, the agreement is void," Hollenquest explained. The barber says the two men shook on the compact in front of their houses in Ozone Park on July 6, 2014, an agreement he believes should never be broken.

"We're from the South," Hollenquest said about the friend he said was one of his closest. "All a man has is his word. Once you give a handshake, it's locked and sealed."

Hollenquest says he and Owens began spending about $20-50 a day each on lottery tickets and scratch-offs.

Miraculously, Owens got lucky, winning a $1 million payout on a $2 scratcher he purchased at a local bodega on June 27, a bounty confirmed by the New York State Gaming Commission — about $500,000 after taxes and fees.

"I almost fell off the bench," the retiree told the Gaming Commission about unveiling the prize. Owens claimed the prize on June 29, the Commission said.

But when he told Hollenquest about the haul, he said that he wasn't giving up a cent, Hollenquest claims.

Now Hollenquest, who owns a barbershop in Jamaica, has filed a lawsuit against Owens, asking for $300,000 in damages for the alleged breach of their agreement.

Hollenquest, who's acting as his own lawyer, says he prefers to take people to court rather than "handle it in the streets."

"Money is the root of all evil," Hollenquest acknowledged.

Over the years of working with friends and businesses in the neighborhood, he claims he's taken four people to court by himself, and gotten a favorable result every time.

Then again, Owens seems to be riding a streak of unfathomable good luck.

The state sells 23 million of the specific Win For Life scratcher that Owens hit on per year; in the nearly two years since it launched, there have only been 11 jackpot winners.

A man who answered the door at Owens' residence refused to answer a reporter's questions.

A worker at the Foch Grocery bodega, about a block away from Hollenquest and Owens' houses, said that the ticket winner was keeping a low profile.

"He didn't tell anybody," worker Luis Madrid said, pointing to a poster announcing the winning ticket mounted on the store's door. "But everybody knows."

Owens told the State Gaming Commission that he hadn't decided what he was going to do with the cash bonanza.

"I just want to enjoy myself and not have to worry about paying bills anymore," he said. "And I know my wife can retire now."

News story photo(Click to display full-size in gallery)

News story photo(Click to display full-size in gallery)

NY Daily News, Lottery Post Staff

Comments

mypiemaster's avatarmypiemaster

When are people gonna learn that these kinds of lottery relationships usually ends up in the toilet. He who has himself for a client.....

zephbe's avatarzephbe

If it is not in writing, it didn't happen.  Anyone else can say the winner made the same hand shake deal with them.  Congrats to the winner.

cbr$'s avatarcbr$

Congratulation to the winner. MAY BE !  They still live next door to each other. This could go south & get ugly before court.

MaximumMillions

"All a man has is his word. Once you give a handshake, it's locked and sealed."

 

A man also has his name, so get it in writing.

Can't believe these lotto scroungers clog up the courts with their idiotic cases.

music*'s avatarmusic*

Lottery pool rules apply here.  If you play with one or more other players then get it in writing. 

 You are so right MaximumMillions these cases clog up our courts. 

 Pool players say to themselves,"We trust each other and this money will not change us."

ALLboutMONEY

"for the love of money is at the root of all evil"

maringoman's avatarmaringoman

In these types of lawsuits I hope if the plaintiff loses then he has to reimburse the defendant for attorney fees incurred. It's only fair.

ElinaSammy2081's avatarElinaSammy2081

No proof no money.

dpoly1's avatardpoly1

Maybe we can send Owens a box of tissues

He can prove nothing

No Pity!

myturn's avatarmyturn

It was a verbal agreement, which is very difficult and expensive to enforce. I never get involved in lottery pools, I only play by subscription as an individual, never in a group.

noise-gate

Image result for breaking promises

ThatScaryChick's avatarThatScaryChick

Things like this are one of the reasons I play by myself and I don't make promises of splitting wins with anyone. If you're going to play with other people, it's best to have  a written contract of some sort made out.

RJOh's avatarRJOh

Quote: Originally posted by music* on Aug 4, 2015

Lottery pool rules apply here.  If you play with one or more other players then get it in writing. 

 You are so right MaximumMillions these cases clog up our courts. 

 Pool players say to themselves,"We trust each other and this money will not change us."

For there to be a contract all parties must contribute for the benefits of everyone.  In a pool when each member contribute money to buy the tickets that condition is met. 

Accord to this guy each guy was to buy any amount of tickets he wanted using his own and if either ever hit for a $100K or more they would split it between them.  There is no proof that each contributed equally to this venture or anything, as far as is known the only one to buy a ticket was the winner.

If courts allowed people to claim half of what their neighbors own by simply touching hands this country would be in chaos.  He don't have a case.

RJOh's avatarRJOh

Quote: Originally posted by ThatScaryChick on Aug 5, 2015

Things like this are one of the reasons I play by myself and I don't make promises of splitting wins with anyone. If you're going to play with other people, it's best to have  a written contract of some sort made out.

If people want to share your lottery winnings, they should contribute some money toward the cost of playing, a hand shake  won't buy a ticket.

Subscribe to this news story