Aunt and nephew pose with $1.2m lottery check seconds before she says 'I'll see you in court'

An aunt who once treated her nephew "like a son" has taken him to court , accusing him of lying about their deal to share a whopping $1.2 million CAD ($877,550 USD) lottery win.

Barbara Reddick from Guysborough, Nova Scotia, Canada, a quaint unincorporated community on the province's eastern fringe, caused quite the stir among local officials and lottery bigwigs when she abruptly announced, "See you in court," to her nephew , Tyrone MacInnis, moments after they posed for a cheerful snap with their hefty $1.2 million cheque .

The photo captured them both brandishing the $1.2 million cheque just before a video caught the aunt losing her cool , as she animatedly told officials, "It was my ticket. I bought the ticket, and now, he's trying to lie and say I said split."

• 'Arrogant' Noah Lyles slammed by fellow Olympian - 'I'm not a loud person like Noah'
• Top Irish boxer who fought Imane Khelif makes feelings clear after gold medal win

She explained to the camera operator that her intention was to "split with the 50/50, not with no Chase the Ace."

Chase the Ace is a well-known Canadian lottery game typically linked to fundraising events or charities, and in this instance, it was associated with a fundraiser aimed at supporting two local fire brigades in securing new equipment such as fire engines and gear, reports the Mirror US .

The specifics of what Reddick meant remain somewhat murky, given that the fundraiser involved a 50/50-style lottery draw where participants could buy tickets similar to those in a 50/50 raffle, with half the money raised going to the fire department and the other half awarded to the lucky individual whose ticket matched the ace of spades, as per CBC's coverage.

• Olympic breakdancer 'Raygun' raises eyebrows with viewers all asking the same question
• Imane Khelif as a child grew up in a 'conservative family' as pictures give insight into her past

Reddick denied any pact to share the jackpot despite both names appearing on the ticket, insisting: "I'm taking him to court. I'm getting a lawyer tomorrow. Now, you can print that," she directly addressed the videographer capturing the dramatic aftermath.

MacInnis hit back at his aunt's claims, asserting, "Yes, we did," in response to her denial of any agreement. "He's lying," Reddick fired back, explaining, "I put his name on the ticket for good luck because he's like a son to me - he was. He was lucky, but not for half a million dollars."

Yet it was MacInnis' contact details scribbled on the back of the winning slip. The Glace Bay local received the life-changing call when the win was announced, confirming their collective victory.

Chair of the Margaree Forks Chase the Ace Committee Bernice Curley, who was overseeing the lottery, spoke to CBC expressing her shock at the unfolding scene of dispute in July 2018. She recounted double-checking with Nova Scotia Alcohol and Gaming officials about the feasibility of issuing split cheques to co-winners.

"I can't really explain it," she admitted. "I didn't expect anything like that to happen. I just came to deliver the checks and present them to the winners. I'm a little disappointed that happened at the end."

The whole incident unfolded before a large audience, Curley recounted. With a hefty jackpot on the line, "the buzz was quite high," she remarked.

Rob Currie, who teaches at the Schulich School of Law at Dalhousie University, commented to the media that the dispute could be "much dicier" than typical financial disagreements due to the sums exceeding $25,000, necessitating the involvement of the Nova Scotia Supreme Court and potentially incurring "tens of thousands of dollars" in legal fees for both parties and could "drag on for years."

The BBC reported that the conflict was resolved in September 2018, a few months following the widespread sharing of the video featuring the two individuals. Reddick apparently secured the lion's share of the winnings, approximately $650,000, while MacInnis ended up with about $260,000, when converted to 2023 American currency.

Reddick's solicitor informed the BBC, "They are both satisfied with the terms of the settlement. It was reached mutually in order to avoid further court proceedings and to bring this matter to a final conclusion."