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Eastern Time (GMT-5:00) | Home -> Forums -> Lottery News -> Lottery heartbreak: Florida man says he lost $500,000 ticket Lottery heartbreak: Florida man says he lost $500,000 ticketPrevious TopicNext TopicDump Water Florida United States Member #381 June 5, 2002 2635 Posts Offline | | Posted: August 3, 2009, 11:55 pm - IP Logged | |
Cut the guy some slack. He's a 69 year old retired garbage man for goodness sake. The lottery should be prepared to deal with the portion of their customer base that don't fully grasp the rules of collecting the prizes.
In my opinion, an honest lottery corporation would wait until the scratch ticket expires, and if not cashed in they can pay the claim based on the validation slip.
The person who finds the scratch ticket is the new owner entitled to cash it. I would hope the lottery would inform this person there is a problem with ownership and allow the parties to split the prize or take it to court. This part is a fantasy day dream, sorry.
BobP | | |
Idaho United States Member #56982 November 21, 2007 3940 Posts Offline | | Posted: August 4, 2009, 12:13 am - IP Logged | |
"The person who finds the scratch ticket is the new owner entitled to cash it. I would hope the lottery would inform this person there is a problemwith ownership and allow the parties to split the prize or take it tocourt. This part is a fantasy day dream, sorry." BobP, I don't think it is necessarily true that whoever finds the ticket will be the new owner. Or it won't work in this case. Mr. Tolentino has already reported the ticket missing to the lottery officials and the police. He has the confirmation ticket, the clerk who sold him the ticket, the media is all over this story and I am sure it was all caught on tape. And based on this recent news story: http://www.lotterypost.com/news/197606 finding a winning ticket and cashing it in, can get you in a lot of trouble. Especially, since it has been reported missing. "No one remembers the person who almost climbed the mountain, only the person who eventually gets to the top."
ThatScaryChick | | |
If you don't like it, spit it out! United States Member #4842 May 23, 2004 1937 Posts Offline | | Posted: August 4, 2009, 3:49 am - IP Logged | |
He claims that life is tough for him right now. "I owe everybody" he says, supposedly, his only income is Social Security and he's sportin' $20 scratch off tickets! What the... The way I see it is, ya still have to be smarter than that lottery ticket that you buy!!!! | | |
charlotte, north carolina United States Member #65783 September 22, 2008 1622 Posts Offline | | Posted: August 4, 2009, 4:35 am - IP Logged | |
Man that sucks, I hate to misplace anything. Hopefully he will get something out of it, being that he has a confirmation ticket. | | |
MI United States Member #20554 August 14, 2005 57 Posts Offline | | Posted: August 4, 2009, 8:57 am - IP Logged | |
Let's suppose this guy lost the ticket getting into his car and drives away. Five minutes later you pull into the spot and pick up the ticket. Would you turn it in? Or would you cash it? It clearly states it a bearer instrument, so he who has it owns it What about finding a ticket that had not been checked? Clearly someone else bought it, but lost it. Why is the fact that he checked it any different? Personally, I would give it back and hope that karma catches up with me later. | | |
Chief Bottle Washer New Jersey United States Member #1 May 31, 2000 19729 Posts Offline | | Posted: August 4, 2009, 9:36 am - IP Logged | |
"The person who finds the scratch ticket is the new owner entitled to cash it. I would hope the lottery would inform this person there is a problemwith ownership and allow the parties to split the prize or take it tocourt. This part is a fantasy day dream, sorry." BobP, I don't think it is necessarily true that whoever finds the ticket will be the new owner. Or it won't work in this case. Mr. Tolentino has already reported the ticket missing to the lottery officials and the police. He has the confirmation ticket, the clerk who sold him the ticket, the media is all over this story and I am sure it was all caught on tape. And based on this recent news story: http://www.lotterypost.com/news/197606 finding a winning ticket and cashing it in, can get you in a lot of trouble. Especially, since it has been reported missing. I think you're right. There is a lot of precedent for people who lose a lottery ticket, but there is some good proof that they own it. The person finding the ticket in that case does not get to keep the money. Here's a great example from a very recent news story: http://www.lotterypost.com/news/197606 | | |
Chicagoland United States Member #522 July 27, 2002 4519 Posts Offline | | Posted: August 4, 2009, 9:41 am - IP Logged | |
His back pocket "mixed with some other papers" was the worst way of transporting the ticket. All men know (or should know) that their back pocket is the most vulnerable pocket for pickpocketing and for papers to slip out. If he was that careless with the ticket then he would probably have been that careless with his winnings. May your day be prosperous ~
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East Hampton, NY United States Member #42425 June 25, 2006 665 Posts Offline | | Posted: August 4, 2009, 10:15 am - IP Logged | |
He claims that life is tough for him right now. "I owe everybody" he says, supposedly, his only income is Social Security and he's sportin' $20 scratch off tickets! What the... The way I see it is, ya still have to be smarter than that lottery ticket that you buy!!!!  I dont know why but this sounds kinda fishy, if ive won that much. I would get my a-ss home and have a beer, then SIGN it, have trust worthy friends to go with me and claim my prize!
$ $ FOR THE WIN! | | |
mid-Ohio United States Member #9 March 24, 2001 13460 Posts Offline | | Posted: August 4, 2009, 12:45 pm - IP Logged | |
I dont know why but this sounds kinda fishy, if ive won that much. I would get my a-ss home and have a beer, then SIGN it, have trust worthy friends to go with me and claim my prize! By trust worthy friends do you mean friends who wouldn't ask you to share your winnings with them? * THat which happens most *
* is most likely to happen again * 
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United States Member #61017 April 21, 2008 460 Posts Offline | | Posted: August 4, 2009, 12:56 pm - IP Logged | |
no WAY would I put it in my pocket!! Heck even Charlie Applebee knows better: http://fgff.indie-fest.com/?p=16 | | |
Espanola NM United States Member #73231 March 25, 2009 133 Posts Offline | | Posted: August 4, 2009, 1:37 pm - IP Logged | |
I think you're right. There is a lot of precedent for people who lose a lottery ticket, but there is some good proof that they own it. The person finding the ticket in that case does not get to keep the money. Here's a great example from a very recent news story: http://www.lotterypost.com/news/197606 That's true that the UKcourts ruled that "finders/keepers" didn't apply in that case. Although I don't know the specifics of the law in the UK. Also wedon't know how the lottery is run there. Also the specifics from the article from the UK case is kinda vague. Do they have all of thelegal fine print on the back of the ticket there like we do here in theUS? Is the claim process in the UK different the the claim processhere in the states? It also doesn't explain why the lottery continues to print the fineprint that the ticket is a bearer instrument UNTIL SIGNED. If alottery ticket belongs to the purchaser why does the lottery require asignature? Why does the lottery here in the states say they arebearer instruments until signed? | | |
Houston, TX United States Member #4576 April 29, 2004 65 Posts Offline | | Posted: August 4, 2009, 2:00 pm - IP Logged | |
I know the gentleman has the confirmation ticket but why does the story include so much information about where he bought the scratch off? Seems like I remember reading a story on here recently that said part of claiming a ticket could include identifying the place of purchase. Whoever found the ticket now has that information. ________________________ Playing together to make a splash in the pool of lottery winners. It's just a matter of time. | | |
Monkey Butt, USA United States Member #55038 August 23, 2007 1080 Posts Offline | | Posted: August 4, 2009, 2:16 pm - IP Logged | |
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Zeta Reticuli Star System United States Member #30849 January 17, 2006 6989 Posts Offline | | Posted: August 4, 2009, 2:20 pm - IP Logged | |
While I do feel sympathy for the guy in this story and sincerely hope he does get paid, but as has been said here, putting something worth 500 large in a back pocket and standing in a line is really not too swift. I wouyld think most people with such a ticket would keep it in sight and check that it was still there about every 15 seconds, no? It's Lotto, not horseshoes or artillery!
Close doesn't count! I sell everything at a loss but make up for it in volume
- Milo Minderbinder, Catch-22 There are two kinds of jackpot winners...the ones who remained anonymous and the ones that wish they had.
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Atlanta, GA United States Member #1288 March 13, 2003 3316 Posts Offline | | Posted: August 4, 2009, 2:28 pm - IP Logged | |
Ok. I'm not saying that this guy is or is not lying about the story, but do we all remember who Elecia Battle was? If not, look her up. Her story is pretty similar to this guy's. Until fully sorted out I'll also wonder. Agree with Rick G and Perdue he was very careless handling a ticket worth that much. I'd be considering a zip lock bag taped to my body for a ticket worth a half mil.  Good luck to everyone!
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