$560M lottery winner losing $14k a day in interest in court fight to remain anonymous

Union leader ^ | 2/8/2018 | kimberly Houghton

[sodpoodle]

NASHUA — The mysterious New Hampshire woman claiming to have won the $560 million Powerball ticket sold last month is losing about $14,000 a day in interest, according to the attorney who is trying to fast-track a court hearing in the case.

The woman has not yet submitted her winning ticket to the New Hampshire Lottery Commission in the hopes that a Hillsborough County Superior Court judge will allow her identity to remain a secret — even though she already signed her name on the winning ticket purchased at Reed’s Ferry Market in Merrimack.

New Hampshire Lottery Commission rules and regulations require that a winner complete and sign the back of a winning Powerball ticket before being able to claim the prize. Had the ticket been signed by the trustee of a designated trust, the winner could have maintained her privacy.

She has filed a complaint for declaratory judgement and injunctive relief, and a hearing was set to take place on Feb. 21. However, attorney Steven Gordon of the law firm Shaheen and Gordon, who is representing the lottery winner referred to as Jane Doe in court documents, has filed a request to reschedule the hearing to Tuesday.

[sodpoodle]

Wouldn't it be great if she's a FReeper???

[knarf]

Take the money, change your name, buy an island and move.

I should have such a problem ?

[a fool in paradise]

>>Had the ticket been signed by the trustee of a designated trust, the winner could have maintained her privacy.

Last month someone was telling me that you couldn’t do that with the powerball. That your name had to be there and you had to be photographed, not a representative.

[corlorde]

Last month someone was telling me that you couldn’t do that with the powerball. That your name had to be there and you had to be photographed, not a representative.

We had another large winner here in NH not too long ago that did that very thing. It may vary by state but here in NH, a trust can collect the money.

[VTenigma]

Over half a billion dollar and the writer care about $14,000 a day? Crumbs.

[MD Expat in PA]

Last month someone was telling me that you couldn’t do that with the powerball. That your name had to be there and you had to be photographed, not a representative.

It is determined at the state level. In Maryland for instance you can choose to remain anonymous for any of the games, Mega Millions or Powerball.

[a fool in paradise]

Isn’t Powerball multi-state?

[lee martell]

I don’t blame her a bit, but whether she realizes it or not, her life has been forever changed.
Even if she were to squander most of the money, others will see her as extremely rich.

[corlorde]

Yes, it is multi state. I just know a trust can collect your winnings here in NH. I can’t speak for other states.

“Once a trust is created, depending on state laws about publicizing lottery winners, a trustee can then claim the lottery winnings on behalf of the trust, which in some states may keep the winner entirely anonymous.”

http://blogs.findlaw.com/law_and_life/2013/12/for-lottery-winners-a-trust-can-really-pay-off.html

[Oldeconomybuyer]

I’m with her. Privacy and individual liberty are worth fighting for.

[montag813]

And she would have lost a lot more had she invested it in an S&P fund in that time.

[apillar]

If I ever won a jackpot of that magnitude, first thing I would get myself a good lawyer, tax accountant, and investment advisor. Then get everything set up before hand so I could literally cash in the ticket and "disappear" the same day. I would spend the next couple years of my life in some tropical resort for the super wealthy where I wouldn't stand out and would be considered just another newly minted internet startup millionaire or some wealthy "trust fund" kid.

Then once all the golddiggers, scamers, frivoulous lawsuit people, and distant relatives with their hands out had all given me up for dead and moved on to easier marks. I would slowly reintegrate into my old stomping grounds, being as modest and low key in my home and car as to not draw unwanted attention.

[RandallFlagg]

1. Get lots of guns.
2. Get lots of training.
3. Hire a big guy who’s only job is to say, “No.”
Keep all three with you at all times.

[babble-on]

14k a day is worth it. Terrible if she loses.

[SoFloFreeper]

I think she is trying to be above the laws.

[lgjhn23]

“...I don’t blame her a bit, but whether she realizes it or not, her life has been forever changed.
Even if she were to squander most of the money, others will see her as extremely rich....”

Absolutely. Whether she likes it or not, anonymous or not, her life as it is now....is finished.
She basically woke up the next day as the CFO of a $560 million corporation with no experience, training or guidance which is now bleeding out $14K/day by not being managed properly. Once she’s outed, she’ll receive over 1500 pieces of mail per day in solicitations for “donations”. The post office will refuse to deliver it and she’ll have to go pick it up. UPS & FedEx will be the same way. She’ll have to put a razor-wire fence to keep people off her property because they’ll camp out on her front lawn waiting for a chance to “beg”. She’ll have to hire armed security for herself, any kids/family members or pets to keep em from being kidnapped for ransom. She’ll have to quit any job or social activities she once had...no longer safe. At this point, I’d recommend she just go ahead and do it and then move away.....far away and start over. I’d still recommend taking the whole amount of the winnings through a revocable trust for tax and inheritance purposes....but that’s just me.

[corlorde]

I'd leave my current state. Maybe buy a condo on the beach in Florida where other wealthy people live (and no one knows me) for a year or two. People's attention span isn't long, I would then come back to NH and slowly start spreading the wealth around to causes I believe in, while helping my family etc. I don't really want much more (items/things) than I already have, so I am happy enough in that regard. In fact, I'm pretty good with my lot in life. But a condo in Florida for winter is something I would still like to do. Other than that, help out some family and some fellow Vets...

[dgbrown]

I wonder if she likes old, fat, bald guys?

[I want the USA back]

You don’t lose what you don’t have. Nothing was lost. There is unrealized potential gain.

[jjotto]

...The woman has not yet submitted her winning ticket...

She's not the winner until the lottery verifies she's the winner. Presenting the valid ticket is step one. I'm surprised a court would hear a case that is strictly hypothetical, which may end up being how the court rules - by declining the case.