Family sues lottery ticket finder

Comment #19

LckyLary — Sat, 17 Jun 2006 00:51:22 GMT

The most I found in the trash was one where someone missed a matching number for 10 dollars. If I ever found one worth anything significant I'd take it 100 miles away and validate it there. (except see below)

NOTE: If I knew for sure who lost the ticket I would get it back to that person. One time someone left behind some Pick-It's at a register and I figured out who bought them and they got them back - too bad none won anything.

Comment #18

GoldenEgg — Fri, 16 Jun 2006 14:23:14 GMT

....one would have to wonder what the motives of that store clerk was. He calls Mr. Donovan to inform him that someone picked his discarded scratch-off out of the garbage, realized it was a winner, signed it and then turned it in.

.....my guess, the store clerk was really not sure if that ticket actually belonged to Mr. Donovan or not, unless his store only averages 1 lottery player a day and that player being Mr. Donovan, NOT! Most stores that sell lottery tickets on an average to more than... [ More ]

Comment #17

justxploring — Thu, 15 Jun 2006 04:53:57 GMT

Great story, Jeffrey! I just finished an email about work today and was talking about this subject. I have to remember that it's not do unto others the way they do unto you but do unto others the way you would have them do to you Puts things into perspective. You're right.

Comment #16

justxploring — Thu, 15 Jun 2006 04:35:33 GMT

Lesson: sign your tickets right after receiving them to indicate you are the rightful owner of that ticket. If it ends up in the garbage, you may still have a case. RickG

Rick, when I first posted several months ago I remember being advised (by Todd I think) not to sign my tickets before I see an attorney and create a Trust. I wonder if the person who bought the ticket signs it if he/she can then collect the money in other name? Probably the Lottery Commission would make an exception if t... [ More ]

Comment #15

Tenaj — Thu, 15 Jun 2006 02:14:29 GMT

Comment #14

emilyg — Thu, 15 Jun 2006 02:09:57 GMT

Comment #13

Rick G — Thu, 15 Jun 2006 01:53:11 GMT

Jeffrey, that was an interesting comment. Don't kick an honest man in the face lest he kick you in the ass.

Comment #12

jeffrey — Wed, 14 Jun 2006 23:54:30 GMT

It was really nice to offer a 1/3 to the family. I believe that even though you find something you should try to find the owner otherwise it is like theft. I know this is an unpopular idea. I once found a wallet full of money and walked 2 miles to the address in the wallet. The man opened the door, took the wallet and said, The money had better all be there. and then closed the door. The next time I found a bunch of money I kept the money and threw the wallet in a public mailbox. I was wrong,

Comment #11

acronym007 — Wed, 14 Jun 2006 23:15:24 GMT

It's not money it's the love of money; the actual verse is found in 1st Timothy chapter 6 verse 10:

For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.

It's the love of money, not money itself causing people to act foolishly.

Cheers,

Acro

Comment #10

Kidzmom — Wed, 14 Jun 2006 22:12:49 GMT

Very sad situation however the ticket was lost and it was found so the finder is the rightful owner of the ticket because it was not even signed by the one who lost it. He was trying to do a good thing by offering to share but GREED stands in a class all of its own. This is why they have no money for it.

Money is not the root of all evil- - people are

Comment #9

konane — Wed, 14 Jun 2006 19:06:27 GMT

Raise your hand if you'd like a jury summons for that trial!! Mine's up

Comment #8

acronym007 — Wed, 14 Jun 2006 17:30:23 GMT

GREEDY FAMILY - something is always better than nothing and after lawyers fees and time spent in court it will be worth less than one third. Add this to the dumb people lottery collection.

Comment #7

Rick G — Wed, 14 Jun 2006 17:29:10 GMT

...and another thing...how did the store clerk know it was Donavan's ticket? It was an instant ticket, not a longtime combo the customer had been playing for years. Any number of people could have discarded their instant tickets in that trash can. How could he possibly know that Donavan purchased that particular ticket? Why did he quickly call Donavan to verify that it was his? Can we say collusion against an 83 year old man?

This smells faintly of crap and if that was my store I wouldn... [ More ]

Comment #6

Rick G — Wed, 14 Jun 2006 16:40:23 GMT

The crux of the suit is that the ticket was stolen. It was not found on his property or person and wasn't signed to indicate that it was his. The only one that can attest that it was his was the store clerk and that's word against word. The ticket says right on the back of it that it's a bearer instrument. You cannot SAY the ticket is yours. It must be in your possession, signed by you, with verification of your signature and social security number in order to recieve payment. If it had in... [ More ]

Comment #5

NCPicks — Wed, 14 Jun 2006 15:37:47 GMT

As far as I know,lottery tickets are bearer instruments .If you have it in your hand and the ticket has NOT been signed,it's tough luck if you lost it.

St. John didn't have to offer anything.I hope he gets to keep it all.

Stupidity seems to run in the Donovan family.First tossing the ticket,then being greedy.

How can you steal a ticket that has been thrown away in a private business.I don't think the Donovans own that trash can.

Comment #4

konane — Wed, 14 Jun 2006 14:03:44 GMT

In April, the commission ruled against him, ruling that a lottery ticket is like legal tender and certain kinds of bonds possession is all that is required to prove ownership.

St. John told The Call of Woonsocket, R.I., that he offered Donovan's heirs a third of the winnings, but they wanted half.

I told my lawyers to take my offer off the table and they get exactly zero, he said. I'm not going to pay them one penny. They had their opportunity before and they were greedy.

Likely b... [ More ]

Comment #3

CASH Only — Wed, 14 Jun 2006 13:38:15 GMT

Bad news is more likely to be associated with annuity prizes than lump-sum winners. It sure seems this way.

Comment #2

spy153 — Wed, 14 Jun 2006 13:01:39 GMT

he was being generous to that family. they were stupid.

Comment #1

ochoop17 — Wed, 14 Jun 2006 12:43:33 GMT

Finder Keeper , Loser Weeper

Family sues lottery ticket finder

Lottery Post — Wed, 14 Jun 2006 12:09:00 GMT

Winner picked ticket out of the trash, family rejected offer of one-third of jackpot

The heirs of a Blackstone man who tossed away a $1 million scratch ticket are suing the man who picked it out of the garbage, alleging he stole it.

Daniel Donovan, the executor of his father Kevin Donovan's estate, filed suit May 26 against Edward St. John, who found the ticket, and Joseph Sullivan, the executive director of the Massachusetts State Lottery Commission.

The lawsuit, filed in Worcester Sup... [ More ]