[DiamondSmiles]

Pedro Quezada, winner of a $338 million Powerball jackpot, is embroiled in a court fight with his former girlfriend over the money

Lawyers say Ines Sanchez, who lived with Quezada for 10 years and shares a child with him, doesn't deserve any of the fortune

Sanchez has moved out of new home the couple shared and has filed a domestic violence claim against Quezada

By MAIL ONLINE REPORTER and AP

10 November 2013

Just eight months after winning a $338 million Powerball jackpot, Pedro Quezada, 45, is being sued by his former live-in girlfriend for a portion of the fortune.

During a press conference last March, Quezada told reporters that he would buy his girlfriend, Ines Sanchez, 'whatever she wants,' with the money. But now, his lawyer is arguing that Sanchez doesn't deserve any of the winnings because the couple, who lived together for 10 years, was never legally married.

Sanchez' attorneys disagree. They say Quezada purchased the winning lottery ticket with money earned by the couple.

In 2006, Quezada and Sanchez jointly opened a bodega in Passaic, New Jersey, which was run by Quezada's son, Casiano. Sanchez and Quezada have a child together, as well as children from previous relationships.

Quezada, a New Jersey convenience store owner won the $338 million Powerball lottery in March. Sanchez says she deserves a cut of the fortune.

Last Spring, Quezada drew the winning ticket worth $338.3 million. It's the fourth-largest jackpot in Powerball history. After taxes, Quezada received a check for $152 million.

On Friday, Superior Court Chancery Judge Margaret Mary McVeigh, decided not to throw out the lawsuit, but she did deny Sanchez' request to freeze Quezada's lottery money until a trial and verdict determines if she is entitled to a portion of the winnings.

According to The Record, the judge explained that while she acknowledged the long term relationship, Sanchez and Quezada shared as well as Sanchez' contributions to the household, she legally she could not restrain Quezada's assets.

A judge denied Quezada's former girlfriend, Ines Sanchez', whom he lived with for 10 years, request to freeze Quezada's assets until her fair share can be determined in court.

'That’s what money does to people. It changes positive relationships into bad ones,' McVeigh said. 'It doesn’t always enhance a relationship, or bring out people’s better qualities. Her, [Sanchez’], life has been up-ended by this winning ticket…But, I am a judge. I don’t create the law. I have to follow it,' she said.

The Record reported that the judge went on to explain that, 'something in writing,' was needed.

'Our Legislature has spoken. It specifically said, ‘For these types of arrangements, relationships, to be upheld there needs to be a writing. You cannot go forward with these types of relationships without something in writing.'

Sanchez has moved out of the recently purchased Clifton, New Jersey home the couple shared and has filed a domestic violence claim against Quezada, The Record reported. Quezada's attorney declined to comment on that claim.
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Last Spring, Quezada drew the winning ticket worth $338.3 million. It's the fourth-largest jackpot in Powerball history. After taxes, Quezada received a check for $152 million. Now his ex-girlfriend, Ines Sanchez, wants part of the winnings.

Sanchez' attorney says that a large chunk of the lottery winnings is already gone, claiming $57 million has been sent to Quezada's native Dominican Republic, $5 million was given away, $300,000 was spent on the home in Clifton, and $20 million can't be located, the newspaper reported.

Powerball is played in 42 states, Washington, D.C., and the U.S. Virgin Islands. The chance of matching all five numbers and the Powerball number is about 1 in 175 million.

Photos

Pedro Quezada, (right), and his ex-girlfriend, Ines Sanchez, at a press conference in March.

Clifton resident Pedro Quezada, who won millions in the Powerball lottery, appears in Superior Court on November 8, 2013.

[xstunt1ngx]

He already fucking blew through almost his entire $152,000,000 paycheck? the fuck is wrong with stupid ass people.

[BigFoot]

It says he owned a Convenience Store. I thought by associating yourself with any business that sold Lottery Tickets, you could not play or claim prizes from them. At least, that's what I was told when I worked a whopping 2 days at a gas station.

Perhaps they didn't sell lottery tickets.

[Broadjumper]

This is clearly a case of him looking to trade up and she's shit outta luck...smell ya later

[Shakey]

Probably a fucking illegal immigrant.

[Pyramid_Head]

She is in the right to receive something! What a greedy douche.

[Blewvane]

Doesn't say if they were together when he won, doesn't say whether the claim of domestic violence is true or not. Winning that much money it would have been nice of him to buy the mother of his kids a house and car at the very least, then tell her that's all she gets now fuck off.

[Broadjumper]

Originally Posted by Pyramid_Head ↗

She is in the right to receive something! What a greedy douche.

Morally, yes. Legally..not so much. It's fucked but that's the way of the world.

[lagunasun]

I thought the person's name signed on the back of the ticket was the winner with no and's, if's, or but's about it. I'm confused naturally.

[Oswald2001]

User and abuser.