’Nothing for you!’ Chase the Ace winner aunt sues nephew for his half of $1.2m winnings

Barbara Reddick, Nova Scotia aunt sues nephew Tyrone MacInnis for half of Chase the Ace $1.2 million lotto winnings cause she never promised 50/50 split. Does she have a case?

They were said to be particularly close and that nothing would ever come between them. But that all changed come Thursday after it was disclosed Nova Scotia, Canadian woman suing her nephew for the 19 year old boy’s share of a $1.2 million ($911K USD) ‘Chase the Ace’ lotto winnings.

Matters became undone as Barbara Reddick arrived for what she believed to be ‘her’ presentation ceremony Thursday afternoon following Wednesday night’s win, only to find, to her surprise, her nephew Tyrone MacInnis there too as well.

Apparently the teen youth had come to believe that his ‘loving’ aunt would share the winnings with him. But did Reddick promise such a thing?

The ‘run in’ reports the Ottawa Citizen, led to the aunt taking the teen nephew out to the carpark where Reddick had a heart to heart chat, imploring the teen to tell what she knew to be the truth – that she never promised to split her winnings with him.

MacInnis refused, returning from the carpark and joining his aunt in the ceremony, while all the while noting both their names were on the ticket.

Announced Reddick on live camera, ‘I’m taking him to court. It was my ticket,’

Adding, ‘Now he’s trying to lie and say I said split.’

In the end both aunt and nephew walked home with a cheque for $611,319 each not the whole $1.2m Reddick had believed was ‘fairly’ hers for the taking.

Barbara Reddick lottery winner: But why ask to have nephew’s name added on to ticket? 

Aunt and nephew’s conundrum stems from Reddick claiming having sent MacInnis $100 via email transfer to buy her tickets for the Chase the Ace draw, a fundraiser for two volunteer fire departments in Margaree.

She said she told him to put his name on the ticket, beside hers, for luck – not because they planned on splitting any winnings.

‘He’s always lucky with his draws, right?’ said Mrs Reddick, a 57-year-old retired military maintenance technician.

‘I said ‘Well, put your name on the ticket and you’ll be my good luck charm.’

‘I didn’t say split. I never mentioned money at all.’

But wasn’t what the aunt was implying by having her nephew go out and buy the actual winning ticket? Or does it only matter if the nephew only put his share of the ticket cost down too? But then again he did go out of his way and because of him did end up buying the winning ticket. Surely that is worth something?

Barbara Reddick recalls having received a phone call saying the pair had won, with the aunt insisting she had told the organizer, ‘No, I won! It was my ticket.’

Reddick said she asked her nephew, who she described as being like a son to her, how much he was expecting. Which is to say Reddick was willing to pay something for the luck that came her way. But how much exactly?

“I would have given him $150,000,’ she said. ‘Listen, Tyrone was the son that I never had. Me and Tyrone — ask anybody — we’re very, very close.’

But Mr MacInnis said he expected half. Cause after all he and his aunt were very close and presumably he had trusted for his end of going out and picking up the ticket he’d get his rightful share of the spoils. 

Maybe he should have just taken Reddick up on her $150K offer (assuming she ever offered it in the first place?) or perhaps bargained for a number a bit higher than $150K but somewhat lower than $1.2m ?

Barbara Reddick needs to learn about signed gambling tickets, contractual law, and greed. Putting Tyrone’s name on the ticket and not having a clearly written agreement or contract most likely entitles Tyrone to his equal share of the winnings. #chasetheace

— Mind over Matter (@tryoung) July 13, 2018

Barbara Reddick is a bad ass. “I don’t care if I have to use all the money I won just to fight it in court. I lived my whole life without it.” -CBC interview

— Sinnep Uotcid (@PennisDictou) July 14, 2018

Barbara Reddick sore loser aunt: ‘Tyrone is getting nothing from me.’

‘Tyrone is getting nothing from me,’ responded the aunt via Province. ‘It’s just for the principle. We were so close. He broke my heart. He broke it. People go crazy when it comes to money.’

Reddick was presented with a cheque for half the jackpot, and then, asked how she felt, began shouting about getting a lawyer and suing her nephew. So much for celebrating a tidy windfall, let alone half, that wasn’t even yours the day before. 

Reddick is now accusing her brother, MacInnis’ father, of just wanting a new truck out of the winnings.

The father was escorted out of the hall, shouting to the reporters, asking them to keep his young son’s name out of the news.

‘I’ll never speak to him,’ told Reddick on live cameras. ‘In this lifetime or the next.’

So much for loving and family…