Fishing buddy sues lotto winner for half of prize

A Victorian lottery winner is being sued by a former fishing buddy who claims he is owed half of the $2.5 million winnings.

Mornington Peninsula man Darren Jamieson claims he and John Taylor had a verbal agreement to evenly split the prize money were either of them to win the lottery, the Herald Sun reports.

But Mr Taylor says the pair were not close friends, only went fishing a handful of times and had not made any agreement.

A statement of claim made by Mr Jamieson alleges Mr Taylor called him on July 2, 2013 to say they had both won the lottery.

He then alleged Mr Taylor gave him $15,000 to pay off a car loan.

But Mr Taylor said the money was instead used to buy Mr Jamieson's car and said he began court proceedings late last year to get the $15,000 back when he didn't receive the vehicle.