Ruffin v. Ruffin

During pending divorce proceedings, Mr. Ruffin (defendant) was ordered to begin paying child and spousal support starting September 20, 1996, but had not yet paid anything when he won $4.9 million from a $2 lottery ticket eight days later. Mrs. Ruffin (plaintiff) moved to impose a constructive trust on the winnings, arguing the $2 spent on the ticket should instead have gone toward support payments; the trial court denied relief, and Mrs. Ruffin appealed.