Bingo Sisters Sue
Two bingo-playing sisters have successful sued their other sister for reneging on an agreement to share a £50,000 jackpot won in June 2007. Unfortunately, their sister now claims to have already spent the money.
Doreen Thomas and Linda Kenny took their sister Edna Sexton to court because in June 2007 they entered into a verbal agreement to split the £50,000 prize if any of them were lucky enough to win it at the Buckingham Bingo Palace club in Liverpool. Edna won the prize, then went home and changed her mind about the arrangement, leaving Doreen and Linda feeling both bewildered and betrayed.
Judge Derek Halbert recently ruled that Edna had entered into a verbal contract with her sisters, and that she must therefore share her £50,000 prize with them as she originally agreed. Whilst Doreen and Linda said that they were “delighted” by this decision, the news that Edna has already spent all of the money means they may be waiting for their share for quite a while.
This news story should make all bingo players think very carefully before entering into any verbal agreement with friends or even family members, for two reasons. First, if you win and change your mind, your verbal agreement is still legally binding and can result in your prosecution. Second, if another player wins and changes their mind, you may have to go to considerable lengths to get your share of the money.
Our advice is to back up any verbal agreement with a simple written document that is signed by all players who have opted to share any prize money won. But even in that case you should only enter into an agreement with people who you are absolutely confident will keep their word. As the sisters of Edna Sexton discovered to their cost, simply assuming that siblings will always keep to their agreements is not enough.
22nd April 2008
Article Last Updated: 22/04/2008 17:16:14
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