Sometimes, a stack of lottery cash is thicker than blood.
And two Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania, brothers learned that the hard way.
A winning lottery ticket has pitted Ira Sharp, and his half-brother, Charles Thomas Meehan, against each other in Cumberland County Court, fracturing a close familial kinship that may never exist again.
Drinking luck
The saga began at Johnny Joe's Sports Bar & Grill in Hampden Township in late May, when Sharp and Meehan were knocking back a few drinks, and scratching off $20 "Hot Million" instant lottery tickets between chugs.
Before long, Meehan folded, deciding he had gambled away enough money that night.
But Sharp felt lucky.
So he slapped a $20 spot in front of Meehan, and according to court records, said "Let's play one more ticket; if we win, we'll split the money."
After purchasing the ticket from a vending machine in the bar at 5327 E. Trindle Road, Meehan scratched it, and suddenly asked Sharp to join him in the restroom.
The two stood and gazed at the ticket, soon coming to grips with the fact that they had a $1 million winner in their hands.
Drunk with excitement, they composed themselves, went back to the bar, finished their drinks without a word about their luck, and headed to Meehan's house on Portland Street to set up a game plan, court records state.
The night the two were out together isn't exactly clear, as court records suggest they were in the bar drinking on, or about May 21.
While at Meehan's house, they decided to meet there again early the next morning.
They would take the ticket and cash it in together at the Pennsylvania Lottery Commission office in Lower Swatara Township, splitting the winnings straight down the middle, according to court documents.
So the two lucky men parted ways for the night, dreaming of fortunes ahead.
The next day
When Sharp woke up, he rang his brother to tell him he was on his way.
But, there was no answer.
He called again — same thing.
Confused, Sharp went over to his brother's, only to find he wasn't there.
Hours went by with no word, and a worried Sharp called again that afternoon, and once again, with no luck. But then, a few minutes later, his phone rang.
It was Meehan.
His brother explained that he had gone to the Lottery Commission alone with the ticket, only to be told that the two didn't have the golden ticket they had hoped for after all, according to court papers.
Baffled, Sharp told his brother to produce the ticket — but he couldn't.
Meehan told Sharp he was just so disappointed by the bad news, that he tossed the ticket on the floor at the Lottery Commission offices.
Growing suspicion
If Sharp wasn't suspicious the day after he thought he was going to receive $500,000, soon, he would be.
After a few days passed following the big letdown, Sharp received word that the Lottery Commission had contacted the owner of Johnny Joe's, telling him a $1 million "Hot Million" instant lottery ticket had been sold at his bar, court records state.
That's when attorneys got involved, because an outraged Sharp lawyered up.
And on June 19, he sued Meehan for breach of contract, and filed for a court injunction to keep him from spending the prize money.
Sharp's lawyer, R. Mark Thomas, filed for the injunction to prevent Meehan from spending the winnings before a trial takes place. Since he only recently filed the complaint, it could take nine months, at the earliest, before it goes to trial, Thomas said.
Sharp has asked for $500,000 of the pot, plus court costs and attorney fees.
The same day Thomas asked for the injunction, Judge Christylee L. Peck granted it, ordering the Lottery Commission, if it had yet to deliver the money to Meehan, to withhold the winnings until she has issued a ruling on the matter.
Or, if Meehan had received the cash, she restricted him from spending any of it, and ordered him to turn it into the court for safekeeping until she decides whether to keep or lift the injunction.
However, the next day, Peck was forced to amend the order, because Cumberland County Court does not hold jurisdiction over a commonwealth agency.
But, since the Lottery Commission had already issued the prize to Meehan, it really didn't matter, Sharp said, adding that the moratorium on his spending still stands.
Injunction intact
Peck held a preliminary hearing on whether or not the injunction should still stand on Monday. But she did not issue an order, and as of early Tuesday evening, it stood.
Meehan could not immediately be reached for comment, and it was unclear whether he had hired an attorney since his brother sued him last week.
Thomas said he has advised Sharp to not discuss the case until a trial ruling has been issued.
Thomas said he realizes that on the face of it, he and Sharp "have a very high burden. We have to produce convincing evidence showing that he deserves some of that money."
To obtain evidence, Thomas hopes to review video footage from the bar that evening to see if, perhaps, there is proof of Sharp sliding a $20 in front of Meehan.
He also wants to find out whether anyone overheard any discussion between the two brothers.
Meehan took the $20 from Sharp, put it in the machine and scratched it, Thomas said. But when it comes to whose money paid for the ticket, and the verbal agreement, he said "the defendant forgets that ever happened."
Thomas is convinced that Meehan's sudden bout of amnesia is a symptom of greed. And while the two brothers don't have an agreement in writing, it shouldn't matter, Thomas said, adding "it's a verbal contract, but it's a contract, nonetheless."
Greedy <snip>!�!!�!!!�
I had a brother who would be dirty enough to do that to me.Now I have no brothers so I don't need to worry.
His own Brother?
Man ...
Cheers !
This is very sad, this article should have read. "Two brothers joyful after "one last ticket" lottery win.
Money brings out the worst in people, regardless of the end ruling, someday that brother will regret what he's done. Money, even that amount doesn't last forever, but his brother will still be there.
Talk about Cain and Abel.
They were buying tickets together and scratching them together that night and they won and now the brother is too greedy to share? What a jerk.
Man, that is just low down and dirty. Got a feeling he will lose in court. Just give your brother the money.
Alcohol makes you forget your greedy.
Money does the trick, will show a person's true colors everytime. I hope Sharp gets his share.
Money changes people. Or, maybe it brings out their true colors? I hope this ends amicably but there's probably a slim to none chance of that. If you're lucky enough to win the lottery, I hope it brings happiness and not heartbreak.
Here we go again. ..
Now Mr. greedy will have to split 4 ways when you count the lawyers,
and after taxes they will be lucky to each have $100,000 or so left over that won't last long,
and a family rift that will last forever.
I guess he did't get greedy til. he sobered up, otherwise why call him to bathroom and show him the ticket ?
man just pay your brother because it will be cheaper than paying the lawyers. Just saying.
Now somebody will come forward and say the guy pushed me out of the way,I was gonna buy that ticket,......................... I want some.lol
This is like when my uncle died ,the next morning his sister called my mom wanting to no who had her inheritance . Shes a sad lady ,all about the money.greed
This is why I had a contract when my father and I had a lottery pool together! Not that he would be grimmy, but, as they say, you never know.
I will not take sides in this one. Meehan could be lying. Sharp could be lying. I know for a fact that the lawyer(s) will walk home with the biggest smile(s). Shame.
Drinking and scratching is never a good idea.
Friends don't let friends scratch while drinking/drunk
Money doesn't change men, it merely unmasks them
-Henry Ford-
He's gonna have bad luck with that money if he doesn't give his brother what he owes him.
And if I was his brother, I honestly wouldn't even want it anymore, I'd tell him to keep it all.
Alls I gotta say is <snip> <snip> <snip> <snip> <snip> <snip> <snip> and <snip> !!
Sad news and spiralling larger yet. Darn.
Buy, play, win, and lose...ALONE. Very simple fix.
L.L.
Excellent point, I was thinking something along the same dern thing.
But its lonely at the top without a brother to share with.
or 
Meehan folded and deciding he had gambled enough money for the night, but Sharp flelt lucky and spent $20.00 of his own money to buy another ticket. Meehan scratched it like it was his ticket and once he realized the ticket was for a $million he couldn't wait to get to that lottery headquarters to cash that winning ticket in.The next day made some story up to give his brother so he could keep that cool $million. Wow. If this story is correct then all I can say to Charles Meehan " Charles Meehan, you are God-d### liar and a thief "
My girlfriend and I was scatching a couple of rolls of ticket that we brought together. The last roll that we brought, we won $25,000,00. we took the ticket the lottery headguarter and received the money. We split the money straight down the middle.
Since Sharp bought the ticket, why did Sharp let Meehan scratch the ticket and let him take it home ? why?
Always sign your tickets!! Then you don't have to worry!
WTG
I think that GF is gonna be re-titled- wife...don't let some one else get that one.
Really sad.
So sad, too bad. I think the person with the money got the wrong end of the deal. Thieves are NOT winners.
AHHH!!! Brotherly love!!!!
should've both put their signatures on it!!!!
Given the whole "we had the wrong ticket and I threw it on the floor" B.S. story Meehan gave over the phone to his brother the next day, acknowledges that Meehan knew they had an agreement. And then somehow ending up mysteriously cashing in a winning ticket ("when" is not detailed) makes it pretty clear who the liar is.
Unless that phone call was also made up by Sharp, in addition to the whole evening, bathroom celebration, return to house to make a plan. But those are a lot of physical facts for Sharp to make up or for Meehan to deny. Phone records could support some of it. Three unanswered calls from Sharp and one from Meehan.
It would have been nice to hear at least some of Meehan's side of the story, to see if he denies the whole evening ever happened, the phone call, or what?
As for that night (if there really was a night out... but I'll give Sharp the benefit of the doubt), there is nothing to say that they were even drunk, other than with "excitement". Just because they are knocking back a few drinks, doesn't make them drunk. They seemed to be in control enough to think not to celebrate in the open. They calmly went to the bathroom, celebrated, composed themselves, finished their drinks, and quietly left.
Regarding some people saying to ALWAYS sign the ticket, while that advice is usually given, there are some states where you can claim jackpots as a trust and remain anonymous. (Admittedly, this "small" jackpot amount may not be worth the trouble to do it that way.). So it is very much NOT CLEAR on whether you should sign the ticket or not. Maybe the trust name needs to be on the ticket.
So, what I think you should do when you win is take a "selfie" with the ticket. They should have taken a picture of themselves with the ticket in the bathroom. A picture is worth a thousand words. Or five hundred thousand dollars, as the case may be.
The greedy brother is going to find out one way or another that Karma has a funny way of coming back to haunt him.
"Given the whole "we had the wrong ticket and I threw it on the floor" B.S. story Meehan gave over the phone to his brother the next day, acknowledges that Meehan knew they had an agreement. And then somehow ending up mysteriously cashing in a winning ticket ("when" is not detailed) makes it pretty clear who the liar is."
Yup. If one of them says the other one did that then only the one who supposely did it could be lying. There's no way the second one could be lying about what the first one did.
True that!
Do you think LottoBoner on my ticket would stand in court?
I think one of these brothers works in a convenience store and perhaps he was trained in the art of the patel shuffle.
To bad he found out his other brother was a jedi.
The sith lawyers are gonna drag this one out.
He trusted his brother so much, the way the story went it seems like
he didn't even once think his brother went to the lotto office, he just kept calling
him until he answered the phone. What a shame
Congratulation
just as soon as you win it,"A FOOL AND HIS MONEY WILL PART SOON"..if in fact this is true he might enjoy the winning for a little while but KARMA IS A BITCH WHEN SHE RETURNS.....