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Man claims he's owed half of ex-girlfriend's lottery winnings

SEMINOLE COUNTY, Fla. — A man from Seminole County is fighting in court to get half of his ex-girlfriend’s lottery winnings.

The trial between Howard Browning and Lynn Poirer began Monday.

Poirier bought the lottery ticket a decade ago and testified her ex-boyfriend isn’t entitled to any of her $1 million winnings. She testified they broke up before she bought the winning ticket in 2007.

Related Story: Seminole County couple in court over million-dollar jackpot

Poirier testified she continued to associate with him because she had grown close to his grandchildren.

Browning claims he paid for the $20 ticket after the couple went out to dinner, and the couple made a verbal agreement as long as they were together, they would split the winnings.

Poirier’s attorney said the two were not together and that she was engaged to another man.

Poirier testified that although she saw Browning in the convenience store where the ticket was bought, she was the one who purchased it.

"The money that bought the ticket was the money that came out of his pocket. He is not trying to say, 'The ticket is 100 percent mine.' He just wants the benefit of the deal they had, which is half the money," attorney Sean Sheppard said.

Poirier said the two stopped being intimate in 2002 or 2003.

Closing arguments will be made Thursday.