Legal Application Case Study
Richard was friends with Chester and Bernice. All three were residents of Indiana. Bernice, who was employed in an Illinois tavern where Illinois state lottery tickets were sold, had previously obtained lottery tickets for Richard because Indiana did not have a state lottery. In early April 1984, Richard requested that Chester and Bernice purchase an Illinois lottery ticket for him. He gave Chester and Bernice the money for the ticket and the numbers 6-15-16-23-24-37. Chester and Bernice purchased the ticket, but when it turned out to be the winning combination worth $1,696,800. They refused to give the ticket to Richard and unsuccessfully tried to collect the money. Richard filed suit against Chester and Bernice in Indiana, claiming the ticket and proceeds thereof. Was the contract legal? Why or Why not? Did the Chester and Bernice act ethically in this case? Should Chester and Bernice be able to keep the winnings from the lottery ticket? Why or Why not?