$500K prize divides 2 elderly sisters in Conn.
By PAT EATON-ROBB, Associated Press Writer Pat Eaton-robb, Associated Press Writer – Tue Aug 11, 4:11 pm ET
HARTFORD, Conn. – A passion for gambling shared by two once-inseparable octogenarian sisters has ended up dividing them, with the Connecticut Supreme Court ruling that one can sue the other for a share of a winning $500,000 lottery ticket.
The court said 83-year-old Theresa Sokaitis, of Middletown, can try to enforce a written contract she signed with her 87-year-old sister, Rose Bakaysa, of Plainville, agreeing to split any gambling winnings.
Sokaitis says she is due a share of a $500,000 Powerball jackpot won by Bakaysa and their brother, Joseph F. Troy Sr., in 2005.
"We had an accountant, we had a contract and we had a notary public," Sokaitis said. "We signed the contract together and we agreed to split anything. And when it came time, they didn't even tell me; I saw it in the paper."
A lower court dismissed the suit under a Connecticut law that makes gambling contracts illegal. But the high court, in a ruling that took effect Tuesday, said the sisters' agreement isn't covered by that law because it involves legal activities. It said the case could go to trial.
A message seeking comment was left Tuesday with Troy; a number couldn't be found for Bakaysa.
Sokaitis said she and her sister used to gamble together frequently, play the same lottery numbers, and play the slots and cards at the Foxwoods Resort Casino.
"Almost every day, I'd pick her up, and we'd go riding around," she said. "We went to the casino a lot, and we always shared everything."
Sokaitis said they decided to put the agreement in writing in 1995 after she won more than $160,000 playing poker at Foxwoods and split it with Bakaysa.
"They actually sat down with typewriter and typed up this four-line agreement which says that 'we will share in any future winnings from lottery, cards, bingo' and actually had this agreement notarized," said Sokaitis' attorney, Sam Pollack.
But at some point the two had a falling out. Sokaitis said she doesn't remember whether that happened before the lottery ticket was bought.
But Bakaysa's attorney, William J. Sweeney Jr., said that the falling-out between the two in 2004 ended the contract, and that the two haven't spoken since then.
"Our position has been that if the statute as written should be repealed, then it should be repealed, but it is on the books and it should be enforced," Sweeney said. "The court has said otherwise, so be it."
Sweeney said he still believes the contract is not enforceable and will make that case at trial. Pollack argues that the contract is both legal and binding.
"Just like all siblings, there were disputes," he said. "I don't think there was ever anything that amounts to a legal rescission of this contract."
Sokaitis said she doesn't want to drag her sister into court but believes she and her family are due a share of the money.
"I miss her so much, and I love her, and I don't like what's taken place," Sokaitis said. "But all I want is what is rightfully mine. All I want is my share, nothing more."
Nagrada od 500.000 dolara deli 2 starije sestre u Conn.
Autor PAT EATON-ROBB, pisac Associated Press Pat Eaton-robb, pisac Associated Press – utorak, 11. avgust, 16:11 ET
HARTFORD, Konektikat – Strast za kockanjem koju dele dve nekada nerazdvojene sestre osamdesetogodišnjakinje na kraju ih je podelila, presudom Vrhovnog suda Konektikata da jedna može da tuži drugu za deo dobitne srećke od 500.000 dolara.
Sud je rekao da 83-godišnja Tereza Sokaitis iz Midltauna može da pokuša da sprovede pisani ugovor koji je potpisala sa svojom 87-godišnjom sestrom Rouz Bakajsom iz Plejnvila, pristajajući da podeli svaki dobitak od kockanja.
Sokaitis kaže da joj pripada deo od 500.000 dolara Poverball džekpota koji su osvojili Bakajsa i njihov brat Džozef F. Troj stariji 2005. godine.
Imali smo računovođu, imali smo ugovor i imali smo javnog beležnika“, rekao je Sokaitis. "Zajedno smo potpisali ugovor i dogovorili smo se da bilo šta podelimo. A kada je došlo vreme, nisu mi ni rekli; video sam to u novinama."
Niži sud je odbacio tužbu po zakonu Konektikata koji čini ugovore o kockanju nezakonitim. Međutim, viši sud, u presudi koja je stupila na snagu u utorak, rekao je da sporazum sestara nije obuhvaćen tim zakonom jer uključuje pravne aktivnosti. Rečeno je da bi slučaj mogao ići na suđenje.
Poruka koja traži komentar ostavljena je u utorak Troju; nije se mogao naći broj za Bakajsu.
Sokaitis je rekla da su se ona i njena sestra često kockale zajedno, igrale iste brojeve lutrije i igrale slotove i karte u kazinu Foksvuds Resort.
Skoro svaki dan bih je pokupila i jahali bismo okolo, rekla je. „Išli smo mnogo u kazino i uvek smo sve delili.
Sokaitis je rekla da su 1995. godine odlučili da zapišu sporazum u pisanoj formi nakon što je osvojila više od 160.000 dolara igrajući poker u Fokvoodsu i podelila ga sa Bakajsom.
„Oni su zapravo seli sa pisaćom mašinom i otkucali ovaj sporazum u četiri reda koji kaže da ćemo 'deliti sve buduće dobitke od lutrije, karata, binga' i zapravo su ovaj sporazum overili kod notara”, rekao je Sokaitisov advokat, Sem Polak.
Ali u jednom trenutku njih dvoje su se posvađali. Sokaitis je rekla da se ne seća da li se to dogodilo pre kupovine lutrije.
Ali Bakaisin advokat, Vilijam J. Svini mlađi, rekao je da je svađa između njih dvojice 2004. godine prekinula ugovor i da njih dvojica od tada nisu razgovarali.
„Naš stav je bio da ako statut kako je napisan treba da bude ukinut, onda ga treba ukinuti, ali to je u knjigama i treba ga primeniti“, rekao je Svini. „Sud je rekao drugačije, neka bude.
Svini je rekao da i dalje veruje da ugovor nije primenljiv i da će to izneti na suđenju. Pollak tvrdi da je ugovor i legalan i obavezujući.
„Kao i sva braća i sestre, bilo je sporova“, rekao je on. „Mislim da nikada nije bilo nečega što bi predstavljalo pravno raskid ovog ugovora.
Sokaitis je rekla da ne želi da vuče svoju sestru na sud, ali veruje da ona i njena porodica imaju deo novca.
„Toliko mi nedostaje, volim je i ne sviđa mi se ono što se dogodilo“, rekao je Sokaitis. "Ali sve što želim je ono što je s pravom moje. Sve što želim je moj deo, ništa više."