Lotto windfall: Father appeals court decision over $300k paid to daughter

A Sunshine Coast father whose family was torn apart by a winning lotto ticket has reignited a court battle over a $300k payment to his daughter. Read the latest.

A Sunshine Coast father whose family was torn apart by a winning lotto ticket has reignited a court battle over a $300k payment to his daughter.

A family torn apart by a winning $1 million lotto ticket, which led to an elderly Sunshine Coast man attempt to sue his daughter for a $300,000 payment, has entered a new court battle.

Court documents state William John Bampton, 93, won $986,212.30 in TattsLotto winnings in March 2018, and in August of that year transferred $300,000 to his daughter, Gold Coast woman Suzanne Elaine Vourlides.

But Mr Bampton alleged in court the money was the result of an argument between him and Mrs Vourlides, where she allegedly “demanded” the money, and that he felt “overwhelmed” and that he had no choice but to pay her.

He wanted a “a declaration that he was induced to make the transfer by way of a gift by Mrs Vourlides’ undue influence or unconscionable conduct”.

William John Bampton won $986,212.30 in the lotto in 2018. Picture: Facebook

Mrs Vourlides had argued in court documents that her father “gifted” her the money “at his own instigation and in the exercise of his own free will”.

Judge Suzanne Sheridan then dismissed Mr Bampton’s claim, though Mr Bampton told this publication he would appeal the court’s decision.

Now, in a judgement published on March 28, Mrs Vourlides has asked a court order her father to pay $50,000 in security costs towards his appeal.

This money would ensure Mr Bampton could pay her legal costs at the end of the appeal, if she wins.

The documents stated Mr Bampton challenged Judge Sheridan’s decision to dismiss his claim, alleging she treated subjective motivation as a determining factor and did not approach the situation from Mr Bampton’s perspective as someone “detrimentally” affected by the matter, among other reasons.

The documents detailed Mr Bampton’s financial position, including his assets, which the documents state would cover the cost of the appeal.

Court documents state William John Bampton, 93, won $986,212.30 in TattsLotto winnings in March 2018, and in August of that year transferred $300,000 to his daughter, Gold Coast woman Suzanne Elaine Vourlides. File image.

The documents stated Mr Bampton also submitted an undertaking that he would not diminish or dispose of his assets.

Justice Philip Morrison ruled Mrs Vourlides application be dismissed, with costs, and ordered Mr Bampton to not dispose of or diminish his assets until the end of the appeal.
Mrs Vourlides has previously told this publication the matter was “bound up” in losing her family.

“At the end of the day, I’m over it, quite frankly, it’s destroyed people’s lives,” she said.

“The whole thing is terrible.”

Her brother, Larry, a Sunshine Coast resident, said that his father had stopped talking to him and he wished his dad had never won the money.

“No one’s a winner out of this, it just destroys everyone in the family,” he said.

“The worst thing that ever happened was that he won the million dollars.

“One of the tragic lotto stories, I think.”

Originally published as Lotto windfall: Father appeals court decision over $300k paid to daughter