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Eastern Time (GMT-5:00) | Home -> Forums -> Lottery News -> Man sues Mass. Lottery for $1 million prize mistake Man sues Mass. Lottery for $1 million prize mistake Massachusetts Lottery: Man sues Mass. Lottery for $1 million prize mistakeThe odds of hitting a Caesars Palace instant game ticket for $1 million are one in 3,024,000. But when John Falvey thought he'd beaten the odds, he discovered instead he'd been jilted by Lady Luck.
Now Falvey, a Rhode Island resident formerly of Swansea, Mass., wants his day in court.
He filed a breach-of-contract lawsuit this week against the Massachusetts State Lottery Commission and State Treasurer Tim Cahill seeking the $1 million he was denied because of his purported misinterpretation of how the prizes are awarded.
Falvey, who declined to comment on the civil action, claims he bought a $5 scratch ticket in Fall River on Dec. 11, 2001. But when he tried to cash it in at Lottery headquarters in Braintree on April 11, 2002, he was told his ticket wasn't worth the paper it was printed on.
Falvey took exception. The ticket said, "Get a 7 or 11 in any spot, win that prize automatically." Falvey had scratched his way to a 7 that he took to mean he'd won $1 million.
But the directions were printed on the right side of the ticket, under a game called "Dice," while the prize was offered on the left side for a second game called "Roulette."
The Lottery defended the seemingly confusing language, telling Falvey it didn't matter what the directions said, the ticket's computer bar code and serial number are what really determine a winner.
A Lottery spokeswoman did not return a call yesterday. Boston Herald We'd love to see your comments here! Register for a FREE membership — it takes just a few moments — and you'll be able to post comments here and on any of our forums. If you're already a member, you can Log In to post a comment. 26 comments. Last comment 7 years ago by .
United States
Member #17954
June 24, 2005
11 Posts
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| | Posted: July 1, 2005, 1:31 pm - IP Logged | |
i don't get it  | | |
United States
Member #380
June 5, 2002
11296 Posts
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| | Posted: July 1, 2005, 3:23 pm - IP Logged | |
Why bother suing if the prize is annuity-only? | | |
Chief Bottle Washer New Jersey United States Member #1 May 31, 2000 19729 Posts Online | | Posted: July 1, 2005, 3:42 pm - IP Logged | |
Cashonly, you can give your next annuity-only prize to me -- I'll unburden you from it. | | |
Greenwich, CT United States Member #4879 May 24, 2004 1822 Posts Offline | | Posted: July 1, 2005, 6:47 pm - IP Logged | |
Oh come on! The dice directions and the roulette directions are obviously separate and refer to their respective games. Although I don't blame the guy for trying to make a quick buck. | | |
Roslindale, MA United States Member #5472 July 1, 2004 125 Posts Offline | | Posted: July 1, 2005, 7:21 pm - IP Logged | |
If by some ungodly chance he wins, maybe he'll pay his lawyer an annuity-only fee....
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New Mexico United States Member #12540 March 10, 2005 2987 Posts Offline | | Posted: July 1, 2005, 7:33 pm - IP Logged | |
After he went to all that trouble to scratch a 7 and 11, which he wouldn't have done if he'd not believed that's what he had to do to win, they ought to just hand over the annuity to him.... after all, it's worthless. I know because I've been brainwashed into believing it by constant repitition of bumper sticker slogans about it from CO. Jack | | |
United States Member #3331 January 7, 2004 148 Posts Offline | | Posted: July 1, 2005, 8:08 pm - IP Logged | |
There have been other similar cases in MA where the lottery was sued for what the customers said were "confusing" directions and the customers did not win! I think the guy is not really confused and should be embarassed to sue. The only thing I don't like with the MA scratch tickets is that they do not put the winning numbers on top in numerical order -- It's a pain to remember/match, especially on the $10 tickets! | | |
USA United States Member #8399 October 29, 2004 1133 Posts Offline | | Posted: July 1, 2005, 10:27 pm - IP Logged | |
Cashonly, you can give your next annuity-only prize to me -- I'll unburden you from it. 
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Tennessee United States Member #8005 October 15, 2004 11329 Posts Offline | | Posted: July 1, 2005, 10:29 pm - IP Logged | |
i'll take it also if you don't want it! | | |
United States Member #2380 September 17, 2003 2064 Posts Offline | | Posted: July 1, 2005, 11:38 pm - IP Logged | |
I don't think he plays a lot of annuity only games. I could see him playing the Canadian lottery though since the prize is cash only.
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New Mexico United States Member #12540 March 10, 2005 2987 Posts Offline | | Posted: July 2, 2005, 12:12 am - IP Logged | |
Thanks for that link. I've been studying that ticket for a while. Although it's fine print on the front, I think the guy might just have a case. That ticket-face was what was available for him to see .... on display where he bought the ticket... That's probably all he could see, that face. That face has a faulty set of instructions, but it appears to say if you do what he did, you win. Responsibility for representing the game as it is where it's viewed by the purchaser falls on the lottery commission. If they display that set of instructions to ticket buyers, displayed in view at the time of purchase, and if there isn't some detailed card giving the game rules available to him, except on the back of the ticket, which he can't examine until after the purchase, I think this guy might just get his mil. I'm sort of rooting for him. Jack | | |
Clarksville,Tennessee United States Member #8823 November 13, 2004 1858 Posts Offline | | Posted: July 2, 2005, 11:22 am - IP Logged | |
After looking at the ticket, I too think they should pay him. I also think Mass. should have printed Dice game and Roulette game in the game instructions to specify the two games in each directions. Personally I wouldn't have thought I won but the way they printed the ticket it's worth a shot in court. I love doubles and remember, it's just a game!!!!!! | | |
Wisconsin United States Member #1327 March 27, 2003 1508 Posts Offline | | Posted: July 2, 2005, 4:34 pm - IP Logged | |
Cashonly, you can give your next annuity-only prize to me -- I'll unburden you from it. LOL ! I'll fight you for first place in line, Todd !  Seriously though, we have $5 scratch-offs that are similar here I believe. They have multiple games on them. Each game stands on its own. I would have to see the ticket this guy played, but if it is similar to what we have here, he's wasting his money on lawyers. No chance. ============ How can you tell if a politician is lying? Answer: His lips are moving. | | |
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