contest winner - owe anything to one who entered me?

[madtown17]

Ohio. I was asked by my landlord to be in a survivor type contest. grand prize big screen tv, dvd player, and surround sound system. His sister entered him and her two children in the contest. I took the place of her son. she had told my landlord that if he or I win, she keeps the big screen tv and she would give us $500 cash. when I was notified of this I said alright, not thinking I would win. I never have met her but talked to her about being in the contest. Again when I talked to her, she mentioned the deal, I said alright not knowing the value of the big screen or any other details of the contest. I ended up winning. I can use the value of the tv to buy anything in the store. Now she wants to collect. People have told me I don't owe her anything. I'm not sure since she did get me in the contest. Am I obligated to give her anything? Any advice would be helpful. Thanks.

 

[JETX]

This has nothing to do with whether she got you to enter the contest or not. You had an agreement in place that if you win, she gets the TV, you get $500 (your post doesn't mention anything about ownership of the DVD player and sound system).

Sorry, but that was your agreement, you even confirmed it twice. Sounds like it is valid to me. Take the $500 and kick yourself for not 'getting a better deal'. But at least you will have the knowledge that you played by the 'rules'.

And, if you are a mature and responsible person who stands by his word, congratulations on your win!! Accept the $500 graciously.

(One rule that I have always used in situations like this... What if the roles were reversed and you had entered a friend into a contest with the same prize agreeement. Would you think it fair if they breached the agreement and told you to 'stick it'???? I doubt it. You would be here asking what could you do to force the other person to abide by the agreement!)