Jury says brothers must split winning $1M lottery ticket, but ruling leaves tax issue unresolved
Two half-brothers must split a winning $1 million scratch-off lottery ticket, a Pennsylvania jury ruled Wednesday after only about an hour of deliberation.
However, the Cumberland County Court of Common Pleas decision that Ira Sharp, 52, and Charles Meehan, 45, had a valid oral contract to share the proceeds leaves a tax issue unresolved, according to the Patriot News and Reuters.
Meehan, who wanted to give his brother some of the money, but less than half, already claimed the prize, which left him with $636,000 after paying $364,000 in taxes. If he gives Sharp $500,000, as his half-brother’s lawyer is seeking, getting a refund of some of the tax Meehan has already paid may not be easy, the news agency notes.
Nonetheless, Meehan’s lawyer, Douglas Miller, doubts that there will be an appeal in the case.
