Lottery Winner Doesn’t Have to Share Jackpot With Ex-Wife, Judge Rules

A doctor who won $2.4 million in a lottery does not have to share his winnings with his former wife, even though he waited until their divorce was complete before cashing in, a judge ruled.

Dr. Nagib Giha, 58, denied that he purposely delayed turning in the December, 1988, winning ticket in an attempt to defraud his former wife, Nelly.

Giha said he waited 10 months because he was in poor health and was afraid of being bombarded by requests for money. He cashed the ticket Oct. 6, 1989, six months after the divorce became final.

A divorce agreement specified that Nelly Giha was entitled to no more than $52,000 in alimony and that the rest of their assets, including their Rhode Island home and Florida condominium, were to be divided evenly.

When all the assets were liquidated, Nelly Giha received less than $100,000, plus the $52,000 in alimony, said her lawyer, Christopher F. Long, who pledged to appeal to the state Supreme Court.

Family Court Judge Raymond Shawcross said at a hearing last week that the agreement had to govern the case. There was no evidence of fraud and Giha was not required to tell his wife about the winning ticket, Shawcross said.