A judge has barred the ex-girlfriend of a Charlotte area woman from cashing in on the woman's big lottery ticket win.
Jasmine Watkins said in a lawsuit that she won $25,000 a year for life with a Lucky for Life ticket she bought in May. But on the day she intended to collect her winnings at the NC Education Lottery office in Raleigh, her ex-girlfriend drove without her — and with the winning ticket — and claimed she won the prize, the lawsuit said.
On Thursday, Judge Karen Eady-Williams issued a preliminary injunction ordering the North Carolina Lottery Commission to hold the winning ticket proceeds, pending the outcome of the case, said Trey Lindley, Watkins' Charlotte-based lawyer.
Watkins bought the ticket where she works — at a 7-Eleven in the 1700 block of Windsor Square Drive in Matthews, according to her complaint filed June 6 in Mecklenburg County Civil Superior Court. But she was off-duty when she bought the ticket, according to the complaint.
Lindley said she also could have chosen a one-time cash payout of $500,000.
After Watkins learned she had won, she said her car had mechanical problems. She accepted her ex-girlfriend's offer to drive her to Raleigh to claim her prize, according to her complaint. The woman told Watkins she needed to take her daughter to daycare first, but instead drove to Raleigh with Watkins' ticket, Watkins said in the lawsuit.
According to the complaint, her ex-girlfriend signed the ticket at lottery headquarters, "fraudulently representing herself as the lawful owner."
Watkins said in the lawsuit that she obtained video footage from the 7-Eleven to prove she bought the winning ticket.
She seeks monetary damages from the woman, although the amount is not listed in the lawsuit.
Watkins also sought a temporary restraining order and preliminary injunction preventing the NC Education Lottery from disbursing any of the winning ticket proceeds. She also requests a jury trial against her ex-girlfriend.
The preliminary injunction order has yet to be drafted or officially entered into the court record, according to Lindley.
The woman could not be reached for comment Thursday night.
Sign the ticket or keep the ticket secure in a undisclosed location.
Don't trust your ex. They are usually ex for a reason.
This is not surprising coming out of North Carolina. The state has 10,000,000 residents and probably 9,999,997 are lottery winners.
It’s WAY TOO EASY to win a lottery there.
And keep your mouth shut!! I know it's exciting to tell about your win, but everybody will not be happy.
jj,
You are the LP director of Fake News.
.. I don’t think I have ever heard this character say anything but...
Yep, l guess Jasmine‘s gf forget that she was John wick’d. In other words : excommunicated from the relationship.
You are too funny! Sorry but I can't take you seriously.
Remain quiet until you turn the ticket in and claim your prize. Than you can tell the whole world about your good fortune.
"Everybody will not be happy." God can only change those types of player's minds.
How did the fraudster acquire the ticket though? Didn't the legitimate person retain it?
No one is told til the funds clear the bank. Other then the lottery officials .
Still am a tad skeptical on the lady buying it after working hours.
The fraudster acquired the ticket after Jasmine told her about it. These two were in a relationship, probably living together. Running off at the mouth about " l won money" was a contributing factor & it's a painful lesson- keep your mouth shut. It's no different to pulling out a roll of one hundred dollars bill in a neighborhood known for crime. You'll be asking for it.
" Then you can tell the whole world about your good fortune." Really Music?
how you figure that more like the loosing state
Yes, noise-gate, really. That is the proper way to celebrate. Then go into seclusion and not buying cars for everyone. You make your intentions clear in the press event. Using the "NO" word to anyone and everyone. How your financial advisers will handle requests.
Tell everybody that you will have to wait six weeks for the check here in CA. Longer if there are problems processing your claim.
Make the press event a small party and celebrate your luck.
'Avaritia facit bardus' -
Greed makes you stupid.