Why has the Connecticut Supreme Court stepped into a dispute between two octogenarian sisters?”
The Connecticut Supreme Court has stepped into a dispute between two octogenarian sisters over a winning $500,000 Powerball ticket. The court said in a ruling released Tuesday that 83-year-old Theresa Sokaitis, of Middletown, can try to enforce a written agreement with her 87-year-old sister, Rose Bakaysa, of Plainville, to split any gambling winnings. Sokaitis says she and her sister used to be inseparable and would often gamble together at area casinos. She says she doesn’t want to drag her sister into court but believes she and her family are due a share of the money. Bakaysa didn’t return a call Tuesday.
Connecticut high court steps into lottery dispute between 2 octogenarian sisters By PAT EATON-ROBB , Associated Press HARTFORD, Conn. – A passion for gambling shared by two once-inseparable octogenarian sisters has ended up dividing them, with the Connecticut Supreme Court ruling that one can sue the other for a share of a winning $500,000 lottery ticket. The court said 83-year-old Theresa Sokaitis, of Middletown, can try to enforce a written contract she signed with her 87-year-old sister, Rose Bakaysa, of Plainville, agreeing to split any gambling winnings. Sokaitis says she is due a share of a $500,000 Powerball jackpot won by Bakaysa and their brother, Joseph F. Troy Sr., in 2005. “We had an accountant, we had a contract and we had a notary public,” Sokaitis said. “We signed the contract together and we agreed to split anything. And when it came time, they didn’t even tell me; I saw it in the paper.” A lower court dismissed the suit under a Connecticut law that makes gambling contr
The Connecticut Supreme Court has stepped into a dispute between two octogenarian sisters over a winning $500,000 Powerball ticket. The court said in a ruling released Tuesday that 83-year-old Theresa Sokaitis, of Middletown, can try to enforce a written agreement with her 87-year-old sister, Rose Bakaysa, of Plainville, to split any gambling winnings. Sokaitis says she and her sister used to be inseparable and would often gamble together at area casinos. She says she doesn’t want to drag her sister into court but believes she and her family are due a share of the money.
