Maurice Thibeault picks up cheque. January 5, 2018. (Photo courtesy of OLG)Maurice Thibeault picks up cheque. January 5, 2018. (Photo courtesy of OLG)
Chatham

Lotto dispute still dragging through the courts

Efforts to resolve a lottery dispute between a former Chatham couple continue.

Denise Robertson's lawyer, Steven Pickard of Chatham, told Blackburn News on Thursday he was anticipating discoveries to be finished by the end of 2018 but almost a year later, they continue.

"Once they are complete, then we will set it down for trial," Pickard said in a written statement. "Until the trial is complete, the funds will be held in trust."

The Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation (OLG) was ordered on August 31, 2018 to hand over $3 million to the court to be held in trust until a final decision was made on who gets the money.

Pickard said the evidence is still being gathered for Robertson through interviews and disclosure of documents. Pickard expected a trial by now or in the very near future but said everything is back on track now.

The OLG's lawyer argued in court on August 20, 2018, that the fight was between Maurice Thibeault and his former live-in girlfriend Denise Robertson. The OLG wanted out of the dispute and the judge granted the request.

Robertson insists she is the joint owner of the $6 million winning ticket from September of 2017, but Thibeault has denied any deal was ever made to split the prize.

Thibeault is also suing the OLG and the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO) for at least $825,000, claiming they didn’t investigate the issue in "a reasonable manner".

Thibeault was awarded $3 million by the OLG in December of 2017.

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