Lottery winner loses ticket, awarded unspent portion from couple who found it

Comment #50

Raven62 — Wed, 05 Aug 2009 19:39:55 GMT

They call it empathy: A sharing through imagination of another's feelings or state of mind.

What they do is empathize: To feel or experience empathy.

Comment #49

dingo — Wed, 05 Aug 2009 16:57:31 GMT

Nowsaday, people claims that they are very honest, but they lack of integrity. The difference between honesty and integrity is a person must take an extra step to consider the feelings and emtions of other.

I blame both party. The ticket founder is greedy. The ticket winner is a lazy bump. Why do they wait to late to report the lost ticket? I consider that they are lucky to have unspent portion back in their hand.

Comment #48

PERDUE — Tue, 04 Aug 2009 02:47:07 GMT

Comment #47

DC81 — Thu, 30 Jul 2009 07:26:19 GMT

The trick is to say you found some money but not specify how much, really weeds out the dishonest people, obviously there's probable exceptions like if it's a buck or two that most likely aren't going to be missed at all. Owners of lost winning tickets aren't something that would be too hard to find. Especially when so many places have security cameras now days, never mind if someone actually takes and keeps their receipts.

Comment #46

ca-dreamin* — Thu, 30 Jul 2009 03:01:08 GMT

About 3 or 4 years ago I found a $1 MM QP ticket on the sidewalk. LOL maybe it's a good thing it wasn't a winner!

Unfortunately this story leaves out alot of details.

I'm not really sure how I feel about this.....except what a mess for the Staceys.

When I filled out the claim form for for SuperLotto I DID NOT have to specify where the ticket was purchased nor was I asked.

My experience with finding things......

More than once I have found wallets with ID so I gave them to my super... [ More ]

Comment #45

faith77 — Wed, 29 Jul 2009 15:45:00 GMT

Call me the odd one, but--- The point is that this couple found the ticket on the floor. Yes, they could have given it to the clerk; the clerk may have kept it or trashed it. Since the original buyer did not sign it, how did they prove it was actually her ticket? A few times I have dropped one of my lotto tickets after I purchased them due to my own negligence; I didn't go back to the store, bacause I know that in reality whoever found the ticket kept it and if they won - fine! I lost my right t... [ More ]

Comment #44

dpoly1 — Tue, 28 Jul 2009 20:15:56 GMT

WHO

Comment #43

dpoly1 — Tue, 28 Jul 2009 20:15:27 GMT

The taxes are already high enough !

The article is about taking something that is not your's !

Just like Obama thinks that he should take productive people's money and give it to the unproductive

Comment #42

justxploring — Tue, 28 Jul 2009 20:12:55 GMT

What do Obama and Bush have to do with the Lottery?

By the way, if I win the PB and earn over $500,000 a year, I won't mind paying a little more in taxes if it means someone with cancer will get the propert treatment or a family won't go hungry because Daddy had a heart attack.

Comment #41

ThatScaryChick — Tue, 28 Jul 2009 20:05:31 GMT

And??? It will be Obama's fault for the next hundred years to some people also! Boo Hoo Hoo Hoo

Comment #40

dpoly1 — Tue, 28 Jul 2009 20:03:25 GMT

It was BUSH'S fault for the next 100 years !

Boo Hoo Hoo Hoo !

Those rich Doctors only went to school for 10 years - the UAW members deserve more money than them !

The Greed of Envy

Comment #39

ThatScaryChick — Tue, 28 Jul 2009 19:52:42 GMT

And just like the person who was in the white house before the person who is currently there

Comment #38

dpoly1 — Tue, 28 Jul 2009 19:43:08 GMT

Just like someone that currently lives in the White House

Comment #37

DC81 — Tue, 28 Jul 2009 14:53:31 GMT

Lovin' all the excuses and justification for stealing something that isn't rightfully (or legally) yours, keep it up guys

Comment #36

JackpotWanna — Tue, 28 Jul 2009 11:52:42 GMT

I agree that it was their fault for losing the lotto ticket and not signing it. Atleast they got half the prize. I'm glad it wasn't a major prize in the millions, then it would cause much heartache. Anyway a good story.

Comment #35

savagegoose — Tue, 28 Jul 2009 05:09:58 GMT

cheers LJ

Comment #34

maringoman — Mon, 27 Jul 2009 18:54:18 GMT

Boy I'm glad that we kicked out the British. Let them do wat they will to themselves.

Comment #33

dpoly1 — Mon, 27 Jul 2009 15:49:59 GMT

An unsigned ticket belongs to the person who has the ticket !

Sign you tickets if you don't want to have a problem

Comment #32

RJOh — Mon, 27 Jul 2009 04:52:19 GMT

Certainly I would consider giving them as much as I might have spent on legal fees trying to get it back, at least 10% of the prize.

Comment #31

LotteryJunkiE99 — Mon, 27 Jul 2009 04:32:00 GMT

EDIT: SPELLINGS CORRECTED. i know , i'm all about doing it right. HAHAHAHAHA.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

OMG..... I'M SOOOOOO ANGRY, FIRSTOF ALL BECAUSE I AM HAVING TO RE-TYPE SOMETHING THAT I HAD ALEADY TYPEDWHICH TOOK ME HALF-AN-HOUR TO TYPE BC I ACCIDENTLY HIT THE BACK BUTTONWHEN TRYING TO GET RID OF A SMILEY THINKING IT W... [ More ]

Comment #30

Winning K — Sun, 26 Jul 2009 23:41:51 GMT

I guess I really don't understand people now days, this woman or the clerk dropped the winning ticket on the floor, the woman thought she had her ticket until after the drawing and then she finds that she don't have it. The Stacey's who may have seen the lady or clerk drop the ticket on the floor or may have just found it there and picked it up. Why are people so greedy, the Stacy's knew they didn't buy the ticket and should have given it to the clerk, because the person who bought the ticket wo... [ More ]

Comment #29

konane — Sun, 26 Jul 2009 19:37:12 GMT

Brilliant concept, wish we had that here.

Comment #28

SpanaUnlimited — Sun, 26 Jul 2009 19:23:14 GMT

That is what I am thinking! If I found a signed ticket or a lost paycheck.....I would know that it isn't mine. Since those documents obviously are attached to a particular individual. In that case....it might be easier to track down the name attached to the document. Same applies to a wallet or vehicle. Those will either have an ID/credit card that can be traced back to the rightful owner. A vehicle has a VIN# that can track down the registered owner.

An unsigned ticket....is simply tha... [ More ]

Comment #27

mjwinsmith — Sun, 26 Jul 2009 18:50:36 GMT

If the back of the ticket was signed, then it belongs to the lady that puchased the ticket.

If the ticket was NOT signed, then the Stacey's have a good case. How would they know who the ticket belonged to?? It's a bearer instrument, if I found a ticket that was not signed, it's mine now. If it was signed then I would take it to the police and turn it in to them. After a length of time if it is not claimed then I have a legal right to it.

Comment #26

RJOh — Sun, 26 Jul 2009 18:39:46 GMT

While winning lottery tickets are bearer instruments, the bearers still had to have acquired them through legal means and usually have to sign a claim form stating such when the prizes are greater than $600.

Comment #25

savagegoose — Sun, 26 Jul 2009 18:01:41 GMT

nice post perdue, but why bother, i intend to just bleate like a lost sheep, i lost my ticket i want my money waaaa.

should be alright, i may even get half the winnings back.

Comment #24

PERDUE — Sun, 26 Jul 2009 16:54:07 GMT

After reading this story I was motivated to once again read the back of my playslip and ticket. On the back of my playslip under HOW TO CLAIM YOUR PRIZE: The first thing the TX Lottery Commission wrote was, Sign ticket before claiming. Unsigned tickets could be claimed by whoever possesses the ticket.

I continued to read the back of the playslip and under the section RULES: The first thing the TX Lottery Commission wrote was, The ticket, not the playslip, is the only valid proof of your numb... [ More ]

Comment #23

bashley572 — Sun, 26 Jul 2009 11:22:41 GMT

Yea, good point with the fraud part of NOT being the one who paid for it. Now next question is 'If you lost a jacpot winning ticket and someone else turned it in so you could get it back to claim the win - would you give the person who turned it in any money???

I think I would but not sure how much.

Comment #22

savagegoose — Sun, 26 Jul 2009 09:54:01 GMT

no i would like it returned, i would be amazingly suprised if it was returned. especially if it had $60k in it.

Comment #21

myturn — Sun, 26 Jul 2009 09:04:27 GMT

This is why I like the Players Registration Cards we have here in NSW. If you lose your ticket, or it is stolen, it is registered in your name and others can not claim any prizes.

Comment #20

KY Floyd — Sun, 26 Jul 2009 06:41:18 GMT

Are half of the posters here still in the 3rd grade? If you lost your wallet would you honestly believe that whoever found it was entitled to keep it? If so I'll give you credit for consistency. If not, you obviously don't really believe that finders keepers, losers weepers is actually true. The only difference between losing a wallet and other things is that it's usually a lot easier to find the rightful owner of a wallet. I realize that it apparently comes as a complete surprise to a lot of pe... [ More ]

Comment #19

savagegoose — Sun, 26 Jul 2009 05:23:21 GMT

30k = $60k USD. thats a lot of moolah. prob tax free in UK to. maybe id keep it for 11.5 months

Comment #18

DC81 — Sun, 26 Jul 2009 03:53:52 GMT

I can see the same thing easily happening here and I'm sure somewhere in the US there a case or two on the books. Finders Keepers is not a valid law or exception here in the US either, shocking I know.

If you found it, kept it and it turned out to be a winner you'd be opening yourself up to a nice lawsuit that you'll likely lose if the person has solid evidence and even without the money will be locked up until its resolved and have fun paying the legal bills and back whatever money you ma... [ More ]

Comment #17

TheGameGrl — Sun, 26 Jul 2009 02:01:45 GMT

to those who didnt read the article yet jumped to conclusions that would only apply in your world, the reality is, justice was served and the rightful persons were given the chance to prove they bought and had rights to claim. Sorry that it doesnt give more factual answers as to whether it was signed or not, or how Fraud is defined in legal terms.

I truly hope I am never in a room with some folks when my winning ticket falls out of my purse and onto the floor. Something else might drop to the... [ More ]

Comment #16

Nicey 31 — Sun, 26 Jul 2009 01:59:27 GMT

In any case like that you need to put your ticket away in a safe place before you leave the store. If it was me I would want all the money back but what can you do in a situation like that

Comment #15

SpanaUnlimited — Sun, 26 Jul 2009 00:40:39 GMT

Once again if the ticket was signed.....obviously it is unethical and illegal to try and claim the ticket as yours

However....we are talking about an unsigned ticket that was perhaps found on the ground somewhere. I would likely keep the ticket and I think if i found it it should be mine.

I guess it all comes down to the definition of ownership. Is the purchaser the owner? Is the signature on the back of the ticket the owner

Comment #14

NITEHAWK61 — Sun, 26 Jul 2009 00:13:32 GMT

Nope, I do not understand!!!someone lost the ticket,someone else finds ticket cashes it in,there is no forgery or deception but those people have to pay it back!!! there is something wrong with that big time!!! finders keepers, loosers weepers

Comment #13

chattanoogadog — Sat, 25 Jul 2009 23:28:01 GMT

Hum...I think I should say something like Winners were the sweepers, and loosers were the reapers..... SIGN your snip ticket... Hence the back page of EVERY lottery Printout I have ever seen here in the US... Oh thats Right its the UK... Sorry for your loss...hope the winners are happy

This post has been automatically changed by the Lottery Post computer system to remove inappropriate content and/or spam.

Comment #12

justxploring — Sat, 25 Jul 2009 22:21:58 GMT

I don't think it's one of those black white cases. This took place in the UK, but remember when a man in MA found a winning ticket in the trash? That case took years and the man who bought the ticket died of a heart attack while his family continued to fight. If I found a winning ticket and it wasn't signed, I don't know what I'd do. I once found a few tickets on the counter at Publix and gave them to the clerk, but the drawing hadn't taken place yet. She said they probably belonged to the perso... [ More ]

Comment #11

RJOh — Sat, 25 Jul 2009 22:09:05 GMT

A few years ago when I match 5 of 6 in the local lottery and cashed my ticket I had to fill out a form to collect my winnings with the name of the retailer where I bought my ticket. Even though the bank would have paid me the winnings regardless of the retailer name I put on the form, an investigation later would have revealed fraud if what I signed wasn't true. Finding something that belongs to someone else doesn't make it yours. Signing a form stating you paid for something at a particular ret... [ More ]

Comment #10

HaveABall — Sat, 25 Jul 2009 21:50:13 GMT

Oh, the reason WHY folks often don't sign their lottery ticket is because, in the case of a ticket with advance dates drawings' ever increasing jackpots, the higher the cash value of the jackpot gets, the more names the ticket holder may choose to ADD to the ticket (now being able to, after paying FULL taxes, share with family and/or friends). Do remember in the U.S.A., that we can ONLY gift $1,000,000 to either one person or many over our lifetime! After this, we will be charged taxes on this g... [ More ]

Comment #9

SpanaUnlimited — Sat, 25 Jul 2009 21:40:18 GMT

Call me crazy....but if I find an UNSIGNED ticket. Shouldn't it be a bearer instrument just like cash?

Is that the purpose of having a signture line in the back of the ticket. If you SIGN it.....even if you lose it....nobody else can claim it. However if your irresponsible and don't sign the ticket.....what makes it yours

Comment #8

Redsquash — Sat, 25 Jul 2009 20:10:23 GMT

Why wasn't the ticket signed?.....If you're going to play the lottery and expect to win why is it so difficult to sign your ticket when you purchase them so incidents like this doesn't happen

Most people dont sign the lottery ticket until they have won big. Everyone expect or hope to win, but then they play couple of times each week, and dont find it necessary to sign the ticket until big win. They also dont loose the ticket quite often. This was a news worthy case, where the ticket lost was... [ More ]

Comment #7

ThatScaryChick — Sat, 25 Jul 2009 19:01:39 GMT

The whole thing is crazy. I bet the Stacey's don't feel very lucky right now.

Comment #6

Raven62 — Sat, 25 Jul 2009 18:35:48 GMT

Dorothy McDonagh: Managed to prove the ticket was hers.

She cashed in a small-win ticket and used some of her payout to buy four 1 lines on the Daily Play game.

She still had the play (bet) slip.

She was able to give full details of when and where she bought the ticket.

Amanda Stacey admitted she had found the ticket.

Defence lawyer Rob Ross told the court: It is important for the public to know that 'Finders keepers, losers weepers' is not true and never was true.... [ More ]

Comment #5

savagegoose — Sat, 25 Jul 2009 16:49:56 GMT

YEAH AND ALL i EVER HEAR ABOUT IS THAT TICKETS ARE BEARER PAYS INSTRUMENTS SO DONT LOSE IT ETC.

oops sorry for caps,

here some schmuck, loses their ticket and all is fine.

i have heard when u win you get quizzed about where and when you bought the winning ticket, I am going to say its a bearer instrument pay up.

when did I buy it?

its a bearer instrument pay up.

...

then again i might just do what they ask so everythoing goes as fast and as smooth as pos... [ More ]

Comment #4

PERDUE — Sat, 25 Jul 2009 16:29:27 GMT

Maybe I missed something. The ticket was lost and found in a public establishment. The ticket was then cashed in by the finders. The ticket loser discovers she's lost the ticket. How much time passed between the ticket loss and the ticket being cashed in? Why wasn't the ticket signed? What am I missing in this story? Why are the finders being charged with fraud? If you're going to play the lottery and expect to win why is it so difficult to sign your ticket when you purchase them so incidents li... [ More ]

Comment #3

whitmansm2 — Sat, 25 Jul 2009 16:20:27 GMT

AMEN! I was thinking that as I read the story. I don't see why they have to repay ANYTHING back when they found it! Now if the lady reported her purse stolen and the ticket was in it, then I would be screaming fraud! There should be a finder's keepers law in the UK.

Plus if they have to give it back (oh how I wish they did the ruling in the US) Do the Stacy's get money back because of taxes they paid on the 30? If not, then the one who dropped the ticket should pay taxes on her half then she... [ More ]

Comment #2

SmoothJuice — Sat, 25 Jul 2009 16:13:05 GMT

I don't blame The Staceys', I blame the unresponsible idiot who misplaced the ticket.

Comment #1

TheGameGrl — Sat, 25 Jul 2009 14:53:15 GMT

The judge seemed to act in acordance to procedure. Glad to see he froze the account for further dispersement to the correct owners.

Lottery winner loses ticket, awarded unspent portion from couple who found it

Lottery Post — Sat, 25 Jul 2009 12:40:12 GMT

Amanda Stacey and her husband, Michael, who found a winning lottery ticket on the floor of a shop and collected the 30,000 prize have been ordered to pay back half the money to the person who originally bought it.

The couple spent half the money clearing debts, buying new carpets and treating their children after Mrs. Stacey spotted the slip in a Co-op supermarket in Swindon, Wilts.

However, Dorothy McDonagh, who had bought the 1 Daily Play ticket, called the UK National Lottery operator C... [ More ]