Former common-law couple at war after winning $21 million in 6/49
It's a perfectly ordinary-looking convenience store at the corner of King Street East and Union Street in Preston.
One Stop Convenience sells junk food, cigarettes and basic groceries — definitely no caviar or diamonds.
But according to a lawsuit filed in a Brampton court, the owner of the modest convenience store has a lottery ticket worth $21 million — and he's trying to keep it all to himself.
Young Hee Cho is alleging that Eun Chul Shin, also known as Paul Shin, is cheating her, his former common-law wife, out of her share of the winnings.
Cho had been seeing Shin for three years and living with him for a year and a half when their numbers came up in the July 8 Lotto 6/49 draw, said Cho's lawyer, Hyder Masum.
The couple regularly played the lottery with tickets they bought at their own store and had a verbal agreement to share any winnings, Masum alleged.
According to the statement of claim the law firm Mangal & Masum filed on Cho's behalf, Shin kicked Cho out of the apartment they shared within about a week after the draw.
"Practically speaking, she's homeless — she has individuals she's staying with but she doesn't have a place of her own," Masum said. "She didn't even have an opportunity to get her clothes before she was kicked out of the apartment. She was essentially left in a penniless situation."
Cho has also been deprived of her only source of income, because she helped Shin operate the store, sharing expenses and profits, Masum said.
Shin has since gone back to his estranged wife, said Masum, who didn't know if Shin was legally divorced.
Cho is devastated, her lawyer said.
"In the space of a month and a half, she's lost her home, she's lost the person whom she loved, she's lost almost everything that's important to her.
"Frankly, she's not devastated because of this lottery ticket so much as what ... it's done to her life and relationship with this man," Masum said.
None of Cho's claims have been proven in court. Cho speaks little English and doesn't want to speak directly to the media, the lawyer said.
Masum said his firm has been dealing with another law firm in the matter. Lawyer Thane Campbell has some knowledge of the case but apparently hasn't been formally retained, Masum said. Attempts to contact Campbell weren't successful. Nor could The Record reach Shin directly.
These days, the counter at One Stop Convenience is being staff by manager Chang Kim.
Kim has been around less than a month. He said a relative of Shin's introduced them when Shin was looking for someone to run the store. Kim said he didn't talk to Shin about why he needed a manager. He's since heard the rumours about the lottery ticket.
Shin ran the store with a woman Kim assumed was his wife. After the family moved out, Shin told Kim he was only 10 minutes away.
Masum said both Cho and Shin have teenage children from previous relationships but none together.
Shin, who still owns the building, comes in periodically to pick up his mail, Kim said. "He's a free man now."
Store regular Julee Medweth said Shin was "a nice guy, a family man." Like her neighbours, she hadn't heard anything about the win.
Teresa Roncon of Ontario Lottery and Gaming said the July 8 prize of $21 million was claimed but not paid out. Until a prize has been paid out, she can't say who's won it, she said.
Speaking generally, she said, a payout can be delayed for a number of reasons, including if the prize claimant is a retailer selling tickets or if there's a dispute over who owns the ticket.
"If they cannot work it out amongst themselves, sometimes someone might seek an order to pay the prize into a court and that's what OLG would do at that time. Then there would be court proceedings to determine what happens with the prize money."
"According to the statement of claim the law firm Mangal & Masum filed on Cho's behalf, Shin kicked Cho out of the apartment they shared within about a week after the draw"
Law firm Mangle and Mash-em ? No way....this is too good of a name to be true !!!
By the way, I wonder did Shin kick Cho in the shin ???
Since canada law and regulations differ greatly from american- its probably best to leave the legal aspects to those that reside in that country. will be interesting to be updated on how far this goes into litigation before yet another person folds and gives in to another party.
As a firm beleiver in getting it in writing , triplicated, and notarized before any financial situation transpires, I have little regard for the "He-said she said" mentality of the media or the persons involved.
I sincerely hope that however the claims are divied that the person is responsible and enjoys the assets brought forth from it!
There is a chiropractor up the road named Dr. Bohn.
DD, I am trying so hard to be politically correct, but you have me ROFLMAO. I feel sorry for Cho. When they moved in together, she should have purchased a Shin Guard.
I love the name of that law firm. I guess they don't handle accidents like Slippe, Falle & Sioux.
Quote: Originally posted by DoubleDown on Sep 1, 2006
"According to the statement of claim the law firm Mangal & Masum filed on Cho's behalf, Shin kicked Cho out of the apartment they shared within about a week after the draw"
Law firm Mangle and Mash-em ? No way....this is too good of a name to be true !!!
By the way, I wonder did Shin kick Cho in the shin ???
LMAO..
...DD
Come on, give the woman some money. I know the feeling. Does anyone out in Lotteryland know what 21 mil big ones are?
Quote: Originally posted by justxploring on Sep 2, 2006
There is a chiropractor up the road named Dr. Bohn.
DD, I am trying so hard to be politically correct, but you have me ROFLMAO. I feel sorry for Cho. When they moved in together, she should have purchased a Shin Guard.
I love the name of that law firm. I guess they don't handle accidents like Slippe, Falle & Sioux.
Shin guard ....
BTW, How bout the law firm of Dewey, Cheatham, and Howe ?
Quote: Originally posted by lorramil on Sep 4, 2006
Come on, give the woman some money. I know the feeling. Does anyone out in Lotteryland know what 21 mil big ones are?
Unfortunately, people come here hoping to find a way to get some money, not seeking advice about giving it away once they've won some. If her lawyers can't concoct a good pity story she's not going be any better off than she was when she first started shacking up with the guy.
come on paul, be a man, i mean thats more than enough money for both of you ,if twenty people had put together and bought that ticket,and shared it , im sure they would be happy with what they got, 21 million split between two people (minus the taxes) still end up with a lot of money that you both can live comfortable with , and if you had split it then you might have been rolling around in your dough instead of going to a court to decide who said what about money that was not even won yet,just let it go man , and go be happy with your winnings,k
"According to the statement of claim the law firm Mangal & Masum filed on Cho's behalf, Shin kicked Cho out of the apartment they shared within about a week after the draw"
Law firm Mangle and Mash-em ?
No way....this is too good of a name to be true !!!
By the way, I wonder did Shin kick Cho in the shin ???
LMAO..
...DD
Since canada law and regulations differ greatly from american- its probably best to leave the legal aspects to those that reside in that country. will be interesting to be updated on how far this goes into litigation before yet another person folds and gives in to another party.
As a firm beleiver in getting it in writing , triplicated, and notarized before any financial situation transpires, I have little regard for the "He-said she said" mentality of the media or the persons involved.
I sincerely hope that however the claims are divied that the person is responsible and enjoys the assets brought forth from it!
There is a chiropractor up the road named Dr. Bohn.
DD, I am trying so hard to be politically correct, but you have me ROFLMAO. I feel sorry for Cho. When they moved in together, she should have purchased a Shin Guard.
I love the name of that law firm. I guess they don't handle accidents like Slippe, Falle & Sioux.
Come on, give the woman some money. I know the feeling. Does anyone out in Lotteryland know what 21 mil big ones are?
BTW, How bout the law firm of Dewey, Cheatham, and Howe ?
DD
Unfortunately, people come here hoping to find a way to get some money, not seeking advice about giving it away once they've won some. If her lawyers can't concoct a good pity story she's not going be any better off than she was when she first started shacking up with the guy.
Eat and run. Win and kick out! Ouch!
come on paul, be a man, i mean thats more than enough money for both of you ,if twenty people had put together and bought that ticket,and shared it , im sure they would be happy with what they got, 21 million split between two people (minus the taxes) still end up with a lot of money that you both can live comfortable with , and if you had split it then you might have been rolling around in your dough instead of going to a court to decide who said what about money that was not even won yet,just let it go man , and go be happy with your winnings,k