A raffle winner who couldn't collect on her prize because it doesn't exist will instead take home a cash substitute.
District Justice James Albert, of Greensburg, on Thursday awarded $8,000 to Victoria "Vicki" Georges, of Swede Hill Road, Hempfield Township. Georges also was awarded $96 in court costs.
Georges holds the winning ticket for the grand prize in a drawing conducted at the close of Hempfield's community days in 2000. The prize was a lifetime individual membership to a proposed recreation center that at the time was in the planning stages.
Georges filed a civil action against Hempfield Parks and Recreation Commission and Parks for Kids when township supervisors halted plans for the center and it was never built. She sought a monetary substitute of $9,075 in lieu of the lifetime membership.
Attorneys for the recreation commission and Parks for Kids argued Wednesday in court that one reason Georges was not entitled to the cash was because the raffle was held illegally. Parks for Kids, according to its board chairman, former Hempfield supervisor Jed Yurt, conducted the raffle without acquiring a small games of chance permit.
Albert said he ruled in Georges' favor because although the raffle was held without the proper permit, most of the other prizes were awarded. Those prizes included golf outings, ski passes and sporting goods.
The only other prize that has not been collected by the winner is that for a one-year family membership to the proposed center. Hempfield supervisor Bob Regola Jr. confirmed that his wife holds the winning ticket, but he said she has no plans to seek a monetary substitute.
Albert also noted that no one has been cited for running the raffle without a permit.
"They awarded the other prizes," Albert said. "She was entitled to compensation."
Georges calculated the $9,075 figure by multiplying the estimated annual cost of a membership to the proposed center, $270, by 33 years. She arrived at 33 by subtracting her age at the time of the raffle, 43, from the average lifetime expectancy for women, 76.
The $8,000 that she was awarded is the most that can be won in a civil suit at the district justice level.
George's attorney, Dan Hewitt, of Latrobe, was reserved in his comments on Albert's decision because he has not yet seen the ruling in writing. Albert did not immediately rule on the matter at the close of Wednesday's hearing, and he is mailing out copies of his decision to all parties involved.
"I can't comment until I see it," Hewitt said. "If that is the case, we are very pleased, but the next question is, how far will we have to go to collect on it, and will either defendant file an appeal?"
Hempfield's recreation commission and Parks for Kids have 30 days to appeal.
Hempfield's solicitor, Les Mlakar, could not be reached for comment. Matt Carl, a Pittsburgh attorney representing Parks for Kids, declined to comment.
Georges originally had filed the civil action with District Justice Mark Mansour of Hempfield Township, but the case was transferred to Albert's office when Mansour recused himself.
