LeMieux v Tri-State Lotto Commission,666A.2d 1170

Facts: Joseph LeMieux, of Maine , won $373,000 in a lottery operated by the Tri-State Lotto Commission.The lottery is sponsored by the three northern New England states and is administered in Vermont.In accordance with its usual payment plan, Tri-State was to pay the $375,000 to LeMieux in annual installments over a twenty-year period.LeMieux assigned his rights to the lottery payments for the years 1996 through 2006 to Singer Freidlander Corp. for the sum of $80,000.LeMieux and Singer Freidlander (the plaintiffs) sought a court judgment authorizing their assignment agreement despite Tri-State's regulation barring the assignment of lottery proceeds.The trial court granted Tri-State's motion for summary judgment.On appeal, the plaintiffs argued that Tri-State's regulation was invalid.

In the case of Walker v. Rogers, Walker:

"Won $1,197,790 in the Illinois State Lottery. The prize was payable in 20 annual installments of $ 59,889. In June 1993, Walker entered into a contract with R&P, whereby Walker agreed to assign his right to a $ 30,000 portion of each of the 12 remaining payments to R&P in exchange for a lump-sum payment of $ 135,000". (Appellate Court of Iiinois, Fourth District, 1995)

Question for discussion:Was the assignment invalid?Discuss fully and contrast with Walkerv. Roger.