Montana's $1M lottery raffle winner sued for half of prize

Comment #42

savagegoose — Sun, 18 Jan 2015 16:10:05 GMT

one gets a 1/2 sahare in 3 lotto tickets for $1. the other gets a half share in in 3 lotto tickets for $2. theyre both winners

Comment #41

RJOh — Wed, 14 Jan 2015 04:34:30 GMT

Maybe he only came up with the suggestion in the second place after learning his tickets were losers and Jeff's was a winner. He could hardly suggest he should get 2/3 of the million since he paid for two losing tickets unless he truly believed all three tickets belonged to both of them.

Comment #40

KY Floyd — Tue, 13 Jan 2015 07:21:24 GMT

Why would Hess who brought two tickets for himself and only one for Falling consider splitting his winnings equally with Falling?

Maybe they were friends when he bought the ticket. Maybe Fallang sold him his weed really cheap. Who knows? Just because you or I wouldn't give somebody half, especially on a modest win, doesn't mean other people wouldn't.

Comment #39

noise-gate — Tue, 13 Jan 2015 06:34:57 GMT

What's the starting salary for witnesses in Montana?

That's a Killer line Floyd...LOL.

Kinda reminds me of a bumper sticker l once saw .. it said YOU CAN'T BUY AN HONEST MAN, UNLESS THE PRICE IS RIGHT

Comment #38

noise-gate — Tue, 13 Jan 2015 06:31:25 GMT

Why would Hess who brought two tickets for himself and only one for Falling consider splitting his winnings equally with Falling?

That's a good question- after all Jeff invested absolutely nothing.Michael is a fool to suggest such a thing in the first place.

Comment #37

RJOh — Tue, 13 Jan 2015 05:58:38 GMT

I do joke around with most of the clerks, but have never had one that aggressive on wanting to share.

That's probably because you've never won a million dollars or more, if you had someone would want to share it.

Comment #36

shadowlady — Mon, 12 Jan 2015 21:10:59 GMT

I do joke around with most of the clerks, but have never had one that aggressive on wanting to share.

You know, the easy way they should have done it to make sure that they would split it, is to both of them sign the tickets right after the purchase. That way Jeff would not be able to (try to) claim the prize alone.

Comment #35

Get paid — Mon, 12 Jan 2015 20:01:58 GMT

I don,t buy lottery tickets for no one I don,t paticipate in buying tickets with groups,to keep confuision down,I buy my own tickets.Good Luck.

Comment #34

RJOh — Mon, 12 Jan 2015 16:31:52 GMT

One thing the guy suing has going for him, assuming he's telling (most of) the truth.

I'm sure Michael Hess is telling the truth as he sees it but Jeff Falling had the winning ticket and now has the cash so the truth as he sees it may have more bearing on this case.

Why would Hess who brought two tickets for himself and only one for Falling consider splitting his winnings equally with Falling

Comment #33

pickone4me — Mon, 12 Jan 2015 15:52:29 GMT

Only in a liberalized America this would happen.

Comment #32

dallascowboyfan — Mon, 12 Jan 2015 14:37:18 GMT

Yep sad bit true.

Comment #31

KY Floyd — Mon, 12 Jan 2015 09:02:55 GMT

It shouldn't sound that way unless you stopped reading with the part you've quoted.

Comment #30

KY Floyd — Mon, 12 Jan 2015 09:02:25 GMT

What's the starting salary for witnesses in Montana?

One thing the guy suing has going for him, assuming he's telling (most of) the truth. If it was a single transaction the lottery will know. Based on the numbers, the winning ticket is probably the 2nd of 3 purchased in a single transaction. That should make it easy to establish that Hess bought the winning ticket and subsequently gave it to Fallang. Fallang was apparently working at the Town Pump at th time, and was prohibited from buying a... [ More ]

Comment #29

Stack47 — Mon, 12 Jan 2015 04:54:47 GMT

Yep and he has witnesses that heard him doing all the talking. Wonder if he has a witness who heard Jeff agreeing to split all the tickets.

Comment #28

RJOh — Sun, 11 Jan 2015 17:02:42 GMT

Michael Hess said he went to the store to purchase Montana Millionaire tickets on Dec. 23, and told Fallang if he won, he'd split his winnings, according to documents filed in Helena district court Thursday.

I then told Jeff I would as long as if he was to win we would split it in half, Hess said in a signed affidavit.

Sounds like Hess did all the talking and now he thinks he has an enforceable contract.

Comment #27

Tony Numbers — Sun, 11 Jan 2015 16:31:23 GMT

This is what happens when stoners play the lottery

Comment #26

hearsetrax — Sun, 11 Jan 2015 16:28:52 GMT

you can go to the video all you want but last I remember, not all store security cameras come with sound recording equipment

Comment #25

Wendy G — Sun, 11 Jan 2015 16:28:45 GMT

The best way to avoid a situation like this is to never promise anyone

at anytime any of your winnings. Some people have integrity and some don't.

Better to be safe than sorry. When you purchase a ticket(s), keep your mouth shut.

Comment #24

fja — Sun, 11 Jan 2015 14:41:27 GMT

Since The Town Pump (love the name) is a pretty big corporation, I'm guessing there are camera's at the store,,,,

So Bob-Let's go to the video

Comment #23

sully16 — Sun, 11 Jan 2015 14:13:34 GMT

Never make a promise you know you won't keep.

Comment #22

hearsetrax — Sun, 11 Jan 2015 11:23:14 GMT

well I hope the lawyers enjoy thar cut of this mess

Comment #21

myturn — Sun, 11 Jan 2015 11:13:33 GMT

I never get involved in syndicates or groups of any kind, or agreements, verbal or written.

Also, I don't buy tickets in stores, I only buy subscriptions online or by mail.

Comment #20

ronki — Sun, 11 Jan 2015 11:06:34 GMT

if your the one buying the tickets in a lottery pool like I am and buy tickets for yourself do what I do make copies of the lottery pool tickets give them out to the ones in the pool that way no trouble right now we are playing 2sets of numbers for 19 draws the copies have the date on the ticket when you bought them

Comment #19

Teddi — Sun, 11 Jan 2015 10:03:12 GMT

I'm surprised by how many people are using the witnesses as a tie breaker. The first thing I considered was that they might have been promised a cut for their testimonies. Why was the deli worker even in on the conversation? Was he on a break or is the deli counter that close to the ticket counter? Seems odd.

Another point, unless Hess and the winner were friends, I really don't care if there was a supposed verbal agreement. As has been pointed out by many here, it's become pretty normal for... [ More ]

Comment #18

TheGameGrl — Sun, 11 Jan 2015 04:01:01 GMT

Oral contracts can and have won in court hearings. The fact that there were witness's is a bonus.

Still will await the full disclosure as its been known to happen that there is more to the truth then is being conveyed.

Simple written agreements would have resolved this matter, live and learn.

Comment #17

Stack47 — Sun, 11 Jan 2015 03:23:24 GMT

It looks like you worked with the same guy I did. Over the years, I'll bet he made the I'll share with you if I win and you share with me if you win deal with at least 2000 people. Two guys pooled tickets with him for a few Super Lotto drawing, then broke up the pool, and the two other guys split a $20 million jackpot about a year later. Ten years after it happened, he still says he was cheated out of his share.

Can't predict the outcome of this fiasco, but it will be fun watching.... [ More ]

Comment #16

rcbbuckeye — Sun, 11 Jan 2015 03:04:05 GMT

I quit using those stupid machines. The other day with a lapse of judgment I used the machine at Tom Thumb to buy an All or Nothing QP and it kept spitting my dollar bills back out. More trouble than it's worth.

Comment #15

maringoman — Sun, 11 Jan 2015 03:00:38 GMT

Some guy at work loved to say to me we'll share the big jackpot when you win hoping I'd say of course. All he ever got was a smile. He got the hint and stopped.

Comment #14

mikeintexas — Sun, 11 Jan 2015 01:27:07 GMT

Yes, I use one in the grocery store sometimes, but I mostly buy my tickets at a locally owned (as are all here in Texas) liquor store because the retailer's cut would stay here in town and not go to some out-of-state corporation. I hope that if the store ever sells a winning ticket, the owner would give bonuses to his employees. The downside of using a machine is that they sometimes malfunction - it's happened to me three times before and I had to stay at the machine until management came to sor... [ More ]

Comment #13

RJOh — Sun, 11 Jan 2015 00:58:42 GMT

This sounds like one of those remember me if you win scam promoted by people loitering around stores selling lottery tickets. I usually tell these bums I don't know you now and I won't be knowing you if I win . Even if you say nothing, the people actually think they have an enforcealble contract.

Comment #12

Ron5995 — Sun, 11 Jan 2015 00:39:40 GMT

Use of self-service terminals avoids that issue. Plus offers other benefits too, such as being able to wager exactly the way one desires without need of explaining it all to the clerk.

As for pools, providing a copy of all the tickets front and back to all the participants prior to the drawing is highly recommended. Additionally, it may be best to purchase one's personal tickets at a different time and location than those for the pool. And more ideally, playing one's own numbers instead of qu... [ More ]

Comment #11

mikeintexas — Sat, 10 Jan 2015 23:13:23 GMT

You got that right.

I used to get my tickets at a nearby convenience store, but would try to avoid going in when a certain clerk was there. She was friendly and I'm sure she really meant no harm, but she'd say when handing my ticket, holding it back after I'd already paid: Now, you have to promise me you'll split it with me if you win! I used to just smile, not saying anything until finally had to tell her no, I wasn't promising her a dime, wasn't going to have her suing me for her share .... [ More ]

Comment #10

PrinceRene — Sat, 10 Jan 2015 20:23:58 GMT

the only people who will walk away with any money after the dust settles are the lawyers.

Comment #9

RedStang — Sat, 10 Jan 2015 20:22:30 GMT

I'm waiting for this to happen to me. I get QP tickets for our work pool and myself. I know what's coming if i win. This case should be interesting since there's a witness.

Comment #8

maringoman — Sat, 10 Jan 2015 19:34:36 GMT

Mike Hess bought 3 tickets, gave one to Jeff and then they agreed to split any wins on the three tickets (including the two he kept for himself)? It sounds absurd and Jeff's lawyer will exploit that. Jeff can easily claim there was no partnership and the ticket was just a gift. The witnesses memory of the exact words used will be key to deciding this one.

Comment #7

LottoMetro — Sat, 10 Jan 2015 19:20:10 GMT

Mike bought the ticket, so why didn't he just keep the ticket? i.e.

Mikes buys ticket for Jeff. Mike keeps ticket until drawing. Winner, Mike contacts Jeff so they can claim/split together.

Instead, now you have:

Mike buys ticket for Jeff, gives ticket to Jeff in hopes that Jeff will, out of the kindness/honesty of his heart, split winnings Jeff gets away scot-free, having scammed another idiot lottery player into buying him a winning ticket (clerks love people like Mike)

If Mike... [ More ]

Comment #6

music* — Sat, 10 Jan 2015 18:57:08 GMT

I have made oral and written promises and I will keep those promises when I win the

Mega Millions jackpot for $246,000,000.00 . Good Luck to all LP members Staff

Comment #5

mypiemaster — Sat, 10 Jan 2015 18:53:53 GMT

Don't you just hate it when shiiiiiiit happens?. Some people will never learn.

Comment #4

lothob — Sat, 10 Jan 2015 18:41:04 GMT

4-20 tour, lol.

Comment #3

noise-gate — Sat, 10 Jan 2015 18:39:46 GMT

You have to have it in writing...end of story! Bringing in eye witnesses to what he said/she said may work..but it's dicey.

Bearded Jeff does not know what he going to do with the money- what he does KNOW for certain is that his going on the marijuana smoking tour in Colorado, l guess that is what he defines as living life - what a Guy!

All the best in trying to get your half of the money Micheal, l sure hope you have definite plans should you be successful.

On a side note: Make sure yo... [ More ]

Comment #2

ThatScaryChick — Sat, 10 Jan 2015 18:35:45 GMT

I think this is going to get nasty. The fact that Michael Hess has two witnesses who heard Jeff Fallang agree to share the any winnings might help his case. If they are telling the truth of course. Also, he went to the store and bought the tickets so that might show that they did have an agreement.

Comment #1

BellasBMWLucki — Sat, 10 Jan 2015 18:28:52 GMT

How awful.

ALWAYS REMEMBER EVERYONE who is in this horrid situation,it can be avoided,by simply a few astute steps:

PROTECT YOUR WINNING$$$

Simply by:

1.)sign a document adaging, If monies are won,we will share 1/2 and 1/2 equal split. This is so easy to do,to ensure that later trust me it will hold up in any court of law,with a signed agreement,that if monies are won,from the other party,you're entitle to half,or whatever amount is listed on the official documented agreement.I woul... [ More ]

Montana's $1M lottery raffle winner sued for half of prize

Lottery Post — Sat, 10 Jan 2015 18:23:30 GMT

A regular at the Town Pump in East Helena, Montana, is suing 23-year-old Jeff Fallang, who recently hit a $1 million jackpot and has not given the plaintiff a cut.

Michael Hess said he went to the store to purchase Montana Millionaire tickets on Dec. 23, and told Fallang if he won, he'd split his winnings, according to documents filed in Helena district court Thursday. Fallang, who was on shift, asked Hess if he could buy a ticket from him.

I then told Jeff I would as long as if he was to... [ More ]