Estranged married couple fight over lotto winnings

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. (WSVN) -- An estranged husband and wife met face to face for the first time in years after he won the state lottery and allegedly neglected to notify her.

The divorce hearing took place Tuesday in front of a Broward County circuit judge. It marked the end of what Donna Campbell called a six-year odyssey. "I just want it to be over with," she said.

According to Campbell, in 2007, her husband, American Airlines mechanic Arnim Ramdass, was part of a lottery pool with co-workers. Their jackpot was estimated at $19 million.

But Campbell alleges Ramdass kept the winnings a secret from her. When she became suspicious, she Googled his name and found out about the drawing. By that point, Campbell said, her husband was gone.

Ramdass kept her back to Campbell and news cameras at all times while they waited in the hallway of the Broward County Circuit Court. "[Seeing him here] is bringing a lot back to me," said Campbell.

Over the years, Campbell has tried to bring Ramdass to court, but she claimed she could not locate him. The case was thrown out of Miami-Dade County civil court in 2008 for insufficient evidence.

Campbell is now taking him to divorce court in Broward County. "We want what she deserves: her share of the marital estate," said Vincent O'Brien, Campbell's attorney.

In 2011, Campbell said she caught a brief glimpse of her husband during a mediation, but they did not talk. During Tuesday's meeting the couple sat across from each other but did not make eye contact.

Campbell said she hit rough economic times after Ramdass left, and she is hoping this legal battle will soon come to an end. "It took two years to have him sued," she said, "and he has been dodging the system since then."

A trial date has been set for June 10. Ramdass and his attorney declined to be interviewed.

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