Article content

CHATHAM — The stage is set for what could be a drawn-out legal battle between two estranged lovers for a disputed $6-million lottery jackpot.

And the lawyer for Denise Robertson, the Chatham woman who claims she’s entitled to half that prize, says the decision by Ontario’s gambling overseer to award former live-in boyfriend Maurice Thibeault the undisputed $3 million hurts his client’s chances.

We apologize, but this video has failed to load.

tap here to see other videos from our team. Try refreshing your browser, or OLG awards lottery winner $3M, half a jackpot, as his estranged girlfriend fights for the rest Back to video

“Ms. Robertson feels that she is now placed in a position of unfairness,” lawyer Steve Pickard said Monday. “Mr. Thibeault will have the benefit of his half of the winnings to fight Ms. Robertson’s legitimate claim to her half. Ms. Robertson will have to rely on her own resources to ensure that she is heard fairly in these proceedings.”

Robertson is now evaluating the next steps in the dispute, Pickard said in a Monday statement.

I keep hoping that Maurice will simply do the right thing and acknowledge our agreement to share

The Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corp. (OLG) notified Robertson by letter on Thursday – a copy of which was obtained by Postmedia – that the internal probe prompted by her legal challenge of the jackpot was over. It was essentially good news for Thibeault, meaning more legal wrangling looms if Robertson wants a share.