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From Deadbeats To Easy Street
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From Deadbeats To Easy Street -
From Deadbeats To Easy Street -
From Deadbeats To Easy Street -
From Deadbeats To Easy Street -
From Deadbeats To Easy Street -
From Deadbeats To Easy Street -
From Deadbeats To Easy Street -
From Deadbeats To Easy Street -
From Deadbeats To Easy Street -
From Deadbeats To Easy Street -
From Deadbeats To Easy Street -
From Deadbeats To Easy Street
What a difference a year makes. The New Jersey couple that finally came forward today (4/30) to claim their $58.9 million piece of that recent Big Game lottery jackpot filed for bankruptcy last year, listing debts of nearly $600,000, a large portion of which was run up on 70 separate credit card accounts. According to Jorge and Joanne Lopes's May 2001 bankruptcy filing, the Manalapan, N.J. residents owed money to the IRS, state tax agencies, and loads of credit card companies, like American Express, Chase, and Discover (click here for a six-page debtor sampling). The couple even had delinquent accounts with QVC and the Home Shopping Network. The bankruptcy petition also lists eight separate lawsuits brought against the Lopes's, seven of which were filed to collect credit card debts. The Lopes's case was filed under Chapter 13 of the bankruptcy code, which affords debtors the opportunity to repay all or part of their debts over an extended period of time. But the matter was dismissed last October when the couple failed to file certain court documents and appear at a "confirmation hearing." In light of their windfall, the Lopes's income statement will dramatically change. And as for the pair's expense schedule, we're not sure if they once considered lottery tickets "recreation" or "charitable contributions." Jorge Lopes told reporters today, "My immediate plans are to pay my bills." Hey, it's about time. (12 pages)
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