Waitress Doesn’t Have to Share Lottery Jackpot With Co-Workers
MONTGOMERY, Ala. — A Waffle House waitress who received a lottery ticket worth $10 million as a tip does not have to share the jackpot with her co-workers, the Alabama Supreme Court ruled Friday.
The justices threw out a Mobile judge’s order that divided the winnings equally among Tonda Dickerson and four other employees who claimed they all had a verbal agreement to split any winnings.
The court said the verbal agreement amounted to a contract founded on “a gambling consideration†and was not enforceable.
Dickerson, who works at a different Waffle House, had already started collecting her 20% share of the pot while the court held the rest of the money in escrow.
“We are absolutely thrilled,†said her attorney, Gary Holder.
Tristan Armer, an attorney for the four other employees, declined comment.
Dickerson was given the lottery ticket in March by a breakfast regular, Edward Seward Jr., who testified that he frequently gave the employees lottery tickets.
Seward said the workers had a standing agreement to share the proceeds.
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