County Officials Try To Keep Mega Millions Couple From Collecting (Owe $1M on homeless shelter scam)

WPIX ^ | 1/06/10 | STEPHANIE BARISH

[Libloather]

County Officials Try To Keep Mega Millions Couple From Collecting
By STEPHANIE BARISH wpix.com
4:51 PM EST, January 6, 2010

NEW YORK (WPIX) - A Suffolk County couple may have to wait a little while longer before cashing their $162-million check they won in last week's Mega Millions jackpot.

Richard and Mary Morrison, of Miller Place, allegedly owe the county $950,000. As a result, county officials are seeking a court order to stop the couple from collecting their prize.

According to reports, the money stems from a judgment made in 2000 against a homeless shelter the Morrison's ran for the county for nearly two decades. The comptroller's office claims they overcharged the county for salaries and bonuses.

[Libloather]

Mega Millions Winner Richard Morrison of Miller Place, N.Y. kneels to propose to his wife Mary Morrison prior to being presented with their ceremonial check for $165,000,00 by New York Lottery jackpot announcer Ralph Buckley and the Lottery's Yoland Vega at the New York Lottery Customer Service Center on Thursday, Jan. 7, 2010, in Garden City, N.Y. The couple said they never had a real wedding. (AP Photo/Kathy Kmonicek)

Suffolk Co. To Take Mega Millions Winners To Court
Attorney's Office Claims Couple's Charitable Organization Owes County $950,000, A Charge They Vehemently Deny
Reporting Jennifer McLogan
Jan 7, 2010 5:56 am US/Eastern

MILLER PLACE, N.Y. (CBS) - It should be the happiest day of their lives. Instead, a Mega Millions winner is now lashing out because Suffolk County is going to court to try to stop them from getting their winning check.

As Mary Morrison wiped tears from her eyes on Wednesday after being announced the winner of the $165 million Mega Millons jackpot, her husband, Richard Morrison, had some choice words for the Suffolk County attorney.

"It's a lie! They stole from us! Working for the poverty, helping people, and then being kicked to the curb in two days – two days! And we fought and we did nothing, but run a not-for-profit that nobody owned, and now they're coming after us," Richard Morrison said Wednesday.

The Morrison's attorney, Michael Soloman, was furious. He had just gotten word that the county was going to the Supreme Court to try to seek injunctive relief to prevent his clients from claiming their $165 million prize because, according to Suffolk, the Morrisons owe hundreds of thousands of dollars in back taxes and penalties.

"The nerve of the county to call today and to rain on their parade," said Soloman. "Shame on you Suffolk County! Shame on you!"

This is an excerpt.

http://wcbstv.com/local/mega.millions.suffolk.2.1409376.html

[TexasGreg]

Let ‘em collect the money and then they can pay the government the back taxes. What’s so dang hard about that??

[LostInBayport]

"The nerve of the county to call today and to rain on their parade," said Soloman. "Shame on you Suffolk County! Shame on you!"

They ripped off the taxpaying citizens of Suffolk County, and the County should be ashamed?

The lawyer has got to be a lib.

[oust the louse]

Someone’s at fault here but it’s amazing that Suffolk County had to embarrass these folks the way they did. Look if they were at fault, all the County had to do was let them have their day and sue them on day 2.

[Libloather]

What’s so dang hard about that??

I guess they could take the money and run. That's what you get for "working for the poverty".

[dennisw]

Looks to me like they owe the county. The judgment against them for $950,000 was entered two years ago

I applaud the county for trying to get the money before they collect their lottery winnings. Much cleaner and less hassle than suing after the fact, after they collect their 100 million lump sum payout

[shadowcat]

Withold the money they owe and give them the balance.

[kempo]

What’s $950,000 when your talking $165,000,000. Hell pay it and go enjoy the rest.

[ridesthemiles]

Give them a check for the net difference.... nothing more.

[JimC214]

They gave them the money after they promised to put a Million in escrow until this is all settled.

[Sacajaweau]

I agree with you. Stopping them from getting that money is effectively “stealing”. We have a court system that will work if you do it right. And who says they weren’t going to pay it when they got the money???

[GeronL]

You know the chances of collecting is probably higher if they let the couple cash the check.

just saying.

[Razzz42]

I guess it’s true, getting a judgment and the right to lien and it is still hard to collect, even for a county.

[TexasGreg]

Give them a check for the net difference.... nothing more.

That sounds reasonable to me, too. Deduct what they owe from their winnings AFTER taxes, and then give them the rest. Makes sense to me.

[TexasGreg]

They gave them the money after they promised to put a Million in escrow until this is all settled.

Very reasonable.