GA School Superintendent’s TV Winnings Tied Up In Court Fight

Atlanta, GA—It was the million dollar question, and Georgia’s top educator, state Superintendent Kathy Cox, was competing for her favorite charity.

Kathy Cox: “If I blow it, I still have the $25,000 to give them, right.“

She didn’t blow it, she hit the jackpot…all of it promised to three Georgia schools for the deaf and blind. But, that was a year ago.

Today, her husband’s construction has left the couple bankrupt, and their creditors are suing to get their hands all over the million dollar winnings. Superintendent Cox says not fair.

Cox: “Was it a miracle that this happened? That, I went on a game show and won a million dollars? Absolutely. But, as I said to my husband, it’s not our miracle.“

Steve Osunsami, ABC News, Atlanta: “Lawyers for her husband’s creditors say that they’re owed more than $3 million and that the money she won was hers, that she controls it, and it was her decision to give it away to the kids.“

The lawyers are now fighting over the documents she signed before going on the program…some show the money was to be sent to her home address, but others make it clear it was all for charity.

Kenney Moore, School Director, Atlanta Area School for the Deaf: “Receiving those funds would help our students incredibly.“

Parents and friends of the students are furious with the creditors. At one of the schools, they need the money to give deaf children job training. Brittney Brown is a senior.

Brittney Brown, senior: “I know that she won that money in order to give it to the deaf students, and here we are waiting.“

Waiting, any day now, for a judge to take a side: the students or the bill collectors.