Winner who claimed half of $395 million Mega Millions jackpot sues California Lottery for other half

Comment #110

ckrakowski — Sat, 28 Dec 2024 00:09:00 GMT

Good luck.

In Colorado it is legal for the lottery or casino to pay out only 1/3 of a prize and there is nothing the winner can do about it.

This is due to the only legitimate winner of the powerball game in which three people won but two were assocites of eddie tipton who rigged the game for over a decade.

The case went all the way to the ssc who ruled that the third winner was the legal winner and that they were entitled to the other 2/3rds of the prize butthat the s... [ More ]

Comment #109

CDanaT — Mon, 16 Dec 2024 23:12:44 GMT

108 comments...pretty good topic with interesting viewpoints. Thanks Kate.

Comment #108

Participant — Mon, 16 Dec 2024 18:41:31 GMT

Lahijani bought 1 ticket only.

If the time-stamp on the 2 tickets are seconds apart then the store terminal transmitted a duplicate registration request to the lottery's main computers or the lottery's main computer made a duplicate registration.

A glitch or a calculated manipulation of the machines may have occurred.

Regardless, Lahijani is entitled to 1/2 of the total prize which he has already received and the owner of the involved computers - the lottery the other half.

But... [ More ]

Comment #107

Stat$talker — Mon, 16 Dec 2024 15:12:00 GMT

Butchering the language is exercising the mental muscles?

Nope,.being moe concerned wit the Butchering of innocent soulz, in Warz started by short Napoleonic Complexed Dictatorz in the World would be a good start for YOU..!!

Or start you a Bizzness,.. So you can stay the Hell outta Minez.. You come awuphf like ..

An Edjucated Fool, from an Edjumacated Skool..

-Stat$talker

Comment #106

johnnyBlaze — Mon, 16 Dec 2024 12:33:58 GMT

Butchering the language is exercising the mental muscles? Were you homeschooled

Comment #105

Stat$talker — Mon, 16 Dec 2024 10:55:56 GMT

My head hurts reading your comments.

That'z maybe bcuz, YOU aren't uze to xcercizin yo mental musclez for deep critical thinkin..

Welcome to The Outer Limitz

Wheea Grey Poupon turnz into couldja pass da jelli

-Stat$talker

Comment #104

Stat$talker — Mon, 16 Dec 2024 10:21:19 GMT

The court found that the state's interest in reducing drunk driving outweighs the minor infringement on a driver's constitutional rights

Well, I am doin research...on how critical people reazon heaa..So, the Courtz have admitted that DUI Checkpointz DO infringe on a Driver'z Constitutional Rightz, but minorly , even tho It'z NOT suppose to AT ALL..!!

Conselor, YOU harbor the most dangerous Legal reazoning facing America today, a thumbz Up mentality for slow encroachment of erroding Con... [ More ]

Comment #103

johnnyBlaze — Mon, 16 Dec 2024 01:53:00 GMT

All the venting aside could you at least respond in proper English? My head hurts reading your comments.

Not sure where you got the impression that typing gibberish would look cooler but it's not.

Comment #102

Artist77 — Mon, 16 Dec 2024 01:04:14 GMT

Stats,

I am wasting my time here. You need to do a little research that a eighth grader could easily do and understand. You are spewing false nonsense. It sounds like you have a few DUIs. And a lot of your post is gibberish.

The U.S. Supreme Court ruled that DUI checkpoints are legal in Michigan v. Sitz (1990):

The court found that the state's interest in reducing drunk driving outweighs the minor infringement on a driver's constitutional rights.

Comment #101

Stat$talker — Mon, 16 Dec 2024 00:39:23 GMT

Stats, are you serious?

Of course I am..I'm not lookin to pick a fight heaa Counselor..!!.. I'm not in Heckler mode..

You won't find aNyBoDy heaa more critical thinkin than Mee..

state codes are enforceable rule making granted by a legislature. And yes, they can be challenged in court just like anything else.

It'z a rule that allowz Police DUI checkpointz, but they ARE Unconstitutional..!! for it violatez the unreasonable search seizesure clause of the 4th Amendment, ..but I... [ More ]

Comment #100

Artist77 — Sun, 15 Dec 2024 19:19:02 GMT

Stats, are you serious? As a long term practicing attorney, state codes are enforceable rule making granted by a legislature. And yes, they can be challenged in court just like anything else.

Reread the US Constitution. 10 th amendment.

Tenth Amendment Rights Reserved to the States and the People.

The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people.

Comment #99

Stat$talker — Sun, 15 Dec 2024 19:02:54 GMT

I looked up the PA code.

Artist77 , ya gotta be careful and not be dizstracted by replacement werdz.. code iz NOT the same az law .. Soo many Statez are gittin away wit strippin Citizen'z Rightz, by callin THEIR wishez codez ,.. bcuz The US Constitution FORBIDZ Any State from passin ANY LAW that duzz so..! So?, izzit really Legal , if it'z NOT Law ?...

Anutha s$s Special

Comment #98

Perfecttiming2 — Sun, 15 Dec 2024 15:39:30 GMT

Yes!!

That's what I say... get a receipt when you buy your lottery tickets!

ALL the information about the ticket is on the receipt.

You don't have to make an extra purchase, just ask for a receipt on your lottery tickets and they will give it to you.

Comment #97

Perfecttiming2 — Sun, 15 Dec 2024 15:35:33 GMT

I agree!

And by doing so wouldn't that increase the jackpot at a faster rate?

It would create more higher jackpots which is what the Lottery says it wants...

(Also, I keep wondering WHEN are they going to put the reset amount BACK TO $40M

Comment #96

Ranett — Sun, 15 Dec 2024 02:35:57 GMT

They don't lose them by choice, it just happens. They can also take pics of all their winners. Everybody has a digital camera and/or phone.

Comment #95

Powerball765 — Sat, 14 Dec 2024 18:37:50 GMT

The store manager in California could not help Edwin Castro for two reasons . One is the lottery office has never allowed any store to publish the video remember they give stores commission and in that commission agreement is a little fine print about release of video tapes. And number two even if the store has a video tape the video tape needs to be synchronized with time of purchase which the store does not Know the exact time so the video they have can make sense if the lottery gives them exa... [ More ]

Comment #94

Artist77 — Sat, 14 Dec 2024 18:27:36 GMT

The best strategy is to keep your tickets and do not lose any of them.

Comment #93

cottoneyedjoe — Sat, 14 Dec 2024 17:35:51 GMT

This is a bit paranoid. Store security footage belongs to the store, not the lottery. The lottery asks for a copy, it does not confiscate . Most stores keep their own archives of security footage for a certain period of time.

Comment #92

cottoneyedjoe — Sat, 14 Dec 2024 17:30:47 GMT

Even if what he says is true and even if there is security footage showing him buying both winning tickets in separate transactions, the other state lotteries that participate in MM are not going allow the CA Lottery to pay a prize claim sans ticket, so this is a waste of time.

I feel a little bad for the guy because he probably bought one, then forgot he bought it and so bought another one, and then misplaced one of them. This is why you should designate one spot to put all your lottery ti... [ More ]

Comment #91

Powerball765 — Sat, 14 Dec 2024 17:10:07 GMT

When ever I buy my lottery tickets especially Huge Jackpots l will make my own Video tape from start to finish including video of the original tickets Because am not going to fall victim to California lottery department Confiscating all video evidence strictly for their own Amusement . Including in my video will be the precise time and second my ticket was printed only the real winner has this details because it is getting crazy People that are losers also want to Claim your win insane

lie

Comment #90

Artist77 — Sat, 14 Dec 2024 14:50:18 GMT

Calm down. The ticket was purchased at a gas station that sells tickets all the time. The plaintiff waiting until the claiming period was about to expire does not add credibility to his claim. If I could not find a second ticket, I would have asked informally for the lottery to check with the gas station asap (even though I knew my chances were slim to none for claiming).

You need to go back and read the facts of the Castro matter. It is not unreasonable when someone else claims the ticket i... [ More ]

Comment #89

Powerball765 — Sat, 14 Dec 2024 14:38:30 GMT

They are Lying 100 percent that they don't know who purchased the second ticket . The fact is they already know if it was the same man or not . They are acting Stupid. If a man comes in a Bank and Robs a Bank on Monday with No Mask and the same man comes in on Friday and robs the Bank again with No mask . Even if the Lottery Department are senseless we now have Facial Recognition software that can compare two faces and tell you if they are the same person. At this point in time The lottery Depar... [ More ]

Comment #88

Artist77 — Sat, 14 Dec 2024 14:16:58 GMT

The Castro case was a totally different fact pattern. Someone else claimed it was their lottery ticket vs belonging to Castro. The lottery had to investigate the claim by the other alleged winner.

The lottery has stated that there were separate transactions in this current matter. The lottery had to wait to see if anyone else came forward to claim the other ticket.

There is more than a reasonable amount of suspicion regarding this lottery winner claiming there was a second ticket. If he... [ More ]

Comment #87

billybucks — Sat, 14 Dec 2024 14:07:48 GMT

It is not just California that sells tickets to this game which makes it unlikely that the same store in that particular state sold two of the same winning tickets. He played it forgetting he had put his regular set of numbers on a ticket he bought previously and duplicated that but lost it.

Comment #86

Powerball765 — Sat, 14 Dec 2024 09:58:50 GMT

Yes there is a video tape of Both tickets been purchased just like with Edwin Castro they also had his video tape too but due to the New policy Created by the California Lottery department all videos are no longer to be shared with the public like before. Think about Edwin Castro he went through Hell simple because the California Lottery department refused to release the video of him buying his ticket . In this case they are doing it again They have Confiscated all the available videos on this t... [ More ]

Comment #85

Wavepack — Sat, 14 Dec 2024 06:32:20 GMT

The probability that a particular store sells the same jackpot ticket by chance alone is much lower than your estimate. I can testify for the correct exact probability calculation if the guy needs such a witness.

Comment #84

KY Floyd — Sat, 14 Dec 2024 04:27:57 GMT

I think if I was in his position I would do the same thing.

Anyone who honestly believed they bought both tickets and had a lick of sense would try to collect the second prize. What do they have to lose? The cash value is about $47 million, so if they settle for half even a 20% contingency fee is $4.7 million, and there's probably only a fraction of the work required for an auto accident that might result in a fee of that size.

the odds are insurmountable that someone got a quick pic th... [ More ]

Comment #83

grwurston — Fri, 13 Dec 2024 22:07:28 GMT

Are lottery retailers allowed to buy lottery tickets? If you want to know go to the source.

I was having a discussion with someone about the lottery and this person said that Lottery retailers are not allowed to play the lottery. Is that true? I know Lottery employees are not allowed to play, but are retailers allowed to play? Are they allowed to play in some states and not others? Are there any limitations as to what games they are allowed to play as far as daily games, jackpot games, scra... [ More ]

Comment #82

Artist77 — Fri, 13 Dec 2024 21:44:54 GMT

Thanks. Learned something new. I am sure that law prevents a great deal of fraud and theft but seems excessive in not allowing a cashier to play at a different retailer.

Comment #81

johnnyBlaze — Fri, 13 Dec 2024 21:35:01 GMT

I worked at convenience stores in PA for years so I'm familiar with the rules and spoke to store employees in CO recently who confirmed it as well.

Comment #80

johnnyBlaze — Fri, 13 Dec 2024 21:33:43 GMT

That's what sounds like nonsense to me. The white balls went up until 56 till they changed it to 75 in 2013 so there's no way he could be playing the same set.

And regular players always have their preferred slips marked in some way as they don't want to check each number individually every time. So he couldn't have played the same numbers twice and definitely not filled them out again that day unless he checked and was certain he was missing his slip.

Comment #79

Artist77 — Fri, 13 Dec 2024 21:18:58 GMT

I looked up the PA code. You might be right. This is really broad. I guess it depends on how operations of the games is defined.

(a) A Powerball ticket may not be purchased in this Commonwealth by, and a prize will not be paid to, an officer or employee of the Pennsylvania Lottery or any of the Lottery's professional services contractors or subcontractors who are involved in the operation of the on-line lottery games system or its associated drawings, or to a spouse, child, brother... [ More ]

Comment #78

grwurston — Fri, 13 Dec 2024 21:02:33 GMT

It says he's been playing this one set of numbers for years. He may play that one set every time and fill out the rest of the slips with all different numbers every drawing.

It's no different from people that fill out cards for P3 P4 with different numbers every day or every few days but often include their two or three favorites.

Comment #77

johnnyBlaze — Fri, 13 Dec 2024 20:54:21 GMT

Retailers are part of the restrictions. It's true at least in PA and CO but other states could be different.

Comment #76

Artist77 — Fri, 13 Dec 2024 20:44:27 GMT

I think the law just applies to people employed by a lottery in most if not all states.

But retailers can establish policies on whether their employees can play. Retailers are not lottery employees.

Comment #75

noise-gate — Fri, 13 Dec 2024 20:32:56 GMT

* That's true in CA. It's so strict that if you employed by the lottery, No one living under your roof can play any game sold by the State lottery.

Comment #74

johnnyBlaze — Fri, 13 Dec 2024 19:42:28 GMT

You know you can report the store to the state and they'd lose their license to sell lottery?

Retailers and their employees aren't supposed to play lottery. They might look away for the Mega/PB as they're multi-state and hard to manipulate but what you're saying would cost them their license. Strictly against the rules.

Comment #73

Artist77 — Fri, 13 Dec 2024 19:40:07 GMT

That story sounds a bit like a tall tale.

Comment #72

Brock Lee — Fri, 13 Dec 2024 19:24:51 GMT

this is a pretty good story in its own right. you should consider making a post and poll in the discussion forum: would you buy tickets at a store where the cashier plays customers' self-picks

Comment #71

LooneyGambler — Fri, 13 Dec 2024 18:37:14 GMT

Cashiers play customers play slips all the time for themselves. There's a convenience store near me that the cashier validates the slip twice, one for herself, she takes money out the tip jar to pay. Or, keeps a running balance. That store has an agreement, if you play a slip, the cashier on duty plays also.

Comment #70

Brock Lee — Fri, 13 Dec 2024 17:03:36 GMT

i also believe aliens are involved here. not because it's plausible but because it's much more fun.

Comment #69

CDanaT — Fri, 13 Dec 2024 16:33:53 GMT

I would enjoy seeing the non claimed(MM or PB) jackpots go back into the existing jackpot. If a state has held onto this $________ amount for the allotted time,they certainly have gotten their share of interest gained. An unclaimed jackpot is the same result as a rollover.. no payout to a person(s) or legal entity. Give whatever state(s) that had the winning ticket(s) $1 Million but return the rest.

Comment #68

Artist77 — Fri, 13 Dec 2024 15:21:11 GMT

I wanted to clarify why intent has no bearing in this matter. This is not a criminal case, for example murder, where you are looking at intent in terms of charging first degree murder or manslaughter.

Comment #67

Artist77 — Fri, 13 Dec 2024 11:04:28 GMT

How so? Just because one typically played these numbers, even for decades, and kept a pile of the losing tickets, has zero evidencial weight towards whether a ticket was purchased for a particular future game. Can you imagine the volume of people who play the same numbers for years and forget once to play or lose a ticket

Comment #66

Perfecttiming2 — Fri, 13 Dec 2024 08:33:52 GMT

Thanks for posting this.

Before I read this story I thought he had both ticket ... and they were late on processing the second ticket....

I didn't know the full story (I just kept hearing bits and pieces)

I have so many questions...

If he played those same numbers ....for years... then how could he be so careless and only have one ticket and not the other?

It is always understood that you must have a ticket to claim a prize, otherwise anyone could say: I won such and such jac... [ More ]

Comment #65

johnnyBlaze — Fri, 13 Dec 2024 05:26:49 GMT

He said he'd been playing the same numbers for 30 years. You don't need to check your tickets closely to recognize a second set of the same numbers. And someone who'd been playing lottery for decades always checks their tickets and thoroughly.

Those that always play the same set of numbers don't fill out a slip every time. They carry all the playslips in a pouch till they can't be used anymore.

It baffles me that so many are buying his BS and not noticing the gaping holes in this fa... [ More ]

Comment #64

grwurston — Fri, 13 Dec 2024 05:10:10 GMT

Now if the lottery says there is no video of anyone else buying the second winning ticket then that proves his case that he bought both at the same time. Because if he bought both of them there would be no second video of someone else.

Comment #63

grwurston — Fri, 13 Dec 2024 04:36:20 GMT

Sounds to me like he played the same numbers twice on separate tickets and lost one of them.

Say he filled out two or more play slips and had the winning set of numbers on two slips but didn't realize it. He checks his tickets after the drawing, finds one of the winners and in his excitement he doesn't check the other tickets that closely if at all. But he saves the play slips as a memento. At some later point he's looking at the play slips and sees that he played the same combo twice. But... [ More ]

Comment #62

Mwatcher — Fri, 13 Dec 2024 04:28:42 GMT

A judge did throw out a case against Edwin Castro ( the 2 billion winner) because the plaintiff didn't have a ticket. The link below to refresh the story.

https://www.lotterypost.com/news/352198

Comment #61

BobP — Fri, 13 Dec 2024 02:31:57 GMT

They can kill a man giving him that much money all at once or make him crazy sitting home scheming how to get the other half. Showing a pile of losers with those numbers would go a long way.

BobP

See: The Treasure of the Sierra Madre

Comment #60

billybucks — Thu, 12 Dec 2024 23:03:34 GMT

If it was a quick pick then it wasn't his even though that would be quite the controversy with the same obscure lottery location selling 2 winning tickets independent of each other. It had to be a filled out card but why did he play it twice unless it was on different days that he went in there and forgot he played it and then he claims he lost it. It is possible he didn't realize he played it twice at the time never figuring he had the other ticket but thought it strange that those numbers were... [ More ]

Comment #59

Cruzincat — Thu, 12 Dec 2024 22:48:10 GMT

What if there never was a second ticket and it was a made up, announced, second ticket by someone in the office of the California lottery? Does anybody know exactly what happens to the money that does not get claimed?

Does the state where a large jackpot does not get claimed get all the money or does it get distributed to all the states according to the number of tickets sold for the drawings since it was last hit?

I assume the states already got their share of the tickets sold, before

Comment #58

johnnyBlaze — Thu, 12 Dec 2024 22:42:52 GMT

First, I don't think he bought the ticket. His whole story about playing the same numbers for 30 years is utter BS. If I bought both I wouldn't try so hard to convince ppl with that instead of sticking to specific facts.

Second, even if he did buy the second he shouldn't have any claim over the other half till he presents his other ticket. It's the buyer's responsibility to keep the ticket safe and lottery has no obligation to entertain his stupidity or recklessness.

He's not the li... [ More ]

Comment #57

ShagE3 — Thu, 12 Dec 2024 22:33:05 GMT

P.U. something stinks to high heaven with regards to this missing California mega millions ticket.

Now off to prepare my liverwurst sandwich .....

Comment #56

Stat$talker — Thu, 12 Dec 2024 22:32:01 GMT

Well, You KNOOW Ole Stat$ iz watchin DIZ..!! Maybe I can pickup some pointerz on dem LOz weak spotz...you know, like , a Prize Fighter studyin their opponent for da uPcOmIn fight..

Cauze, I think LOz are like the Big-Headed Alienz on the Star Trek episode, wheaa Captain Pike said az he grabbed'im and pointed his Phazer at hiz Head..

I think I've just blasted a Hole in that window, and you're preventing Me from seeing it..noow would you like me to test my Theory out on your Head ?..... [ More ]

Comment #55

Cmoore50 — Thu, 12 Dec 2024 22:24:57 GMT

If the second ticket was purchased at the same gas station. Who do you think bought the ticket? The lottery commission can squash this quickly by stating it was bought somewhere else. Now if that's not the case. Then the door is now left open. A good attorney could have a field day with this case. Especially if the ticket was bought within seconds of the 1st winning ticket. It's all in the database. He was a lil guy. Jury would still side with him if ticket was purchased at same gas station. No... [ More ]

Comment #54

Brock Lee — Thu, 12 Dec 2024 21:29:48 GMT

i hope it goes to trial so they can put him on the stand and ask him why he treats lottery tickets like a squirrel treats acorns. i can't get my head around all these lost lottery ticket stories.

Comment #53

Artist77 — Thu, 12 Dec 2024 21:25:51 GMT

I agree.

Comment #52

Artist77 — Thu, 12 Dec 2024 21:23:39 GMT

The case will never get that far and is unlikely to survive a motion to dismiss. As others have pointed out, the ticket is a bearer instrument and the plaintiff has been unusually vague with details to support his claim.

Comment #51

johnnyBlaze — Thu, 12 Dec 2024 21:17:13 GMT

Someone who just made out with almost $200M is a lil guy no more. A typical jury would see him as being greedy just like any other multimillionaire.

Comment #50

Cmoore50 — Thu, 12 Dec 2024 20:55:08 GMT

A jury might have a different opinion. They will probably be on his side before the trial starts. Little guy getting stiffed by the greedy lottery commission in California. Now if the facts come out that it's just a money grab. And there is no proof whatsoever that the second ticket was purchased at the same gas station. Then he has no chance.

Comment #49

CDanaT — Thu, 12 Dec 2024 15:17:39 GMT

He does have the funds to pay for the lawsuit and the aspect of being the sole winner that presented a winning ticket could get interesting. We do have to remember, it is CA and they create some unique laws with their thought process out there. Might have to break out the popcorn for this one.

Comment #48

PrisonerSix — Thu, 12 Dec 2024 15:09:37 GMT

He must not be good with money.

Comment #47

heisenberg991 — Thu, 12 Dec 2024 12:13:36 GMT

If he was shown on video buying both tickets he should get dem fat stacks.

Comment #46

Artist77 — Thu, 12 Dec 2024 11:37:19 GMT

A math specialist would not be useful. As the lottery stated in other news stories, the ticket could have been purchased by two friends trying to play the same numbers. And why would the winner purchase the same exact ticket a fraction of a second or seconds later? It makes zero sense.

Perhaps a second ticket printed out in error and someone later bought it.

Comment #45

winterhug — Thu, 12 Dec 2024 11:34:33 GMT

It does not matter about any video footage the store may or may not have. The guy does NOT have the second ticket so, HE should not get the other half of the lottery prize. The ticket is always proof of purchase.

Comment #44

noise-gate — Thu, 12 Dec 2024 05:39:37 GMT

* When Lahijani showed up in June to pick up half the jackpot, he could have told the lottery officials that he was the winner of the entire jackpot, but at present, could not locate the 2nd ticket.

Instead, according to the report, he did not want to talk to the press, nor were lottery officials made aware of his decision to be paid out in a lump sum or not. The guy was private, and that's his choice. Fast forward to December suddenly he's accusing the lottery of being dishonest, lacking in... [ More ]

Comment #43

Cmoore50 — Thu, 12 Dec 2024 04:08:55 GMT

If he bought both tickets at the SAME time. Then he has a case. Ticket number should tell when it was purchased and where. Plus time ticket was printed will show up on tickets also. I'm not sure if barcode reveals time printed. If everything points toward that chevron gas station and it's narrowed down to a 5 minute window. All logical reasoning points to him being the full winner of the jackpot. They could bring in a math specialist and he could explain the astronomical odds it would be for the... [ More ]

Comment #42

sdw1000 — Thu, 12 Dec 2024 02:22:32 GMT

You only get to win once, buddy....greedy

Comment #41

Brock Lee — Thu, 12 Dec 2024 02:01:19 GMT

someone bet him $200 million that he would lose his other ticket and now he has to pay up.

Comment #40

db101 — Thu, 12 Dec 2024 00:39:15 GMT

Plaintiff has suffered financial hardship and emotional distress, including but not limited to, embarrassment, anxiety and mental anguish, all to his general damage in a sum in excess of $50,000.00, the lawsuit states.

Get a f****n grip, man.

Comment #39

Artist77 — Thu, 12 Dec 2024 00:26:05 GMT

He has the burden of proof. I would not give him any info on the other ticket and there likely has already been informal discussions with him on this matter. If they tell him it was a qp, then he will claim there was a computer error and his 2nd ticket was oddly printed out as a qp. You should always let your opponent back himself into a corner.

Comment #38

lottobrain — Thu, 12 Dec 2024 00:20:09 GMT

The lottery could end this thing quickly if the other ticket WAS a qp, just by telling him that. Since that is not happening, then the other ticket is most likely a 100% the other one he can't find bought with his play card. It will have to be determined in court what happens now.

Comment #37

Artist77 — Wed, 11 Dec 2024 23:59:04 GMT

It still does not make it his ticket if the numbers duplicated for someone else. One cannot solely own a particular set of numbers. If I play a set of favorite numbers and they repeat later in a qp for someone else, I have no claim there.

Comment #36

dickblow — Wed, 11 Dec 2024 23:02:00 GMT

people are so greedy

Comment #35

EnReval — Wed, 11 Dec 2024 22:42:34 GMT

Well he cld hv played them for 30 yrs in Bingo

Comment #34

EnReval — Wed, 11 Dec 2024 22:41:01 GMT

He still looking for it

will be funny if other torched qp n purchased hrs later

but he needs to know it he duplicated the tkt by mistake

Comment #33

Artist77 — Wed, 11 Dec 2024 22:18:54 GMT

Comment #32

johnnyBlaze — Wed, 11 Dec 2024 21:39:34 GMT

I think if someone else actually filed a claim he'd have just moved on with his life. Since it became clear that no one else is coming forward he must've figured he could steal this too thinking it'd be easy to convince with the same numbers as his.

Comment #31

Mwatcher — Wed, 11 Dec 2024 21:10:51 GMT

Why didn't he bring up the lost ticket when he first made the claim

Comment #30

Artist77 — Wed, 11 Dec 2024 20:25:22 GMT

Ohhh That is a super good point about the numbers.

And the guy waited a year to see if the real other winner came forward, all the while claiming he misplaced the ticket. I hope nothing happened to the other winner.

Comment #29

EnReval — Wed, 11 Dec 2024 19:11:51 GMT

Were they 1 yrs old when picked the numbers

Comment #28

johnnyBlaze — Wed, 11 Dec 2024 18:33:30 GMT

I can smell BS when he said he'd been playing the same numbers for 30 years. Next BS alarm went off when he said his kids picked the numbers which is the most ridiculous thing in the lawsuit.

The Mega Millions matrix only had 1-56 until October 2013 and was changed to 1-75 towards the end of October 2013. So how could he have played the numbers 66 70 for 30 years when they didn't even exist until 11 years ago?

I'd dismiss the lawsuit and laugh in his face on that alone.... [ More ]

Comment #27

ShagE3 — Wed, 11 Dec 2024 18:30:06 GMT

I wonder what was discussed when he cashed in his ticket earlier this year? He might have mentioned it to lotto officials .... and they may have told him whoever won with the 2nd ticket has one year to claim. This guy waited it out so that the lottery could weed out any and all fraudsters from making a claim.

I'm surprised we haven't read about any other claimants like we did with Edwin Castro.

At any rate ... Id suggest all parties concerned take a few deep breaths and go to their kitch... [ More ]

Comment #26

Tony Numbers — Wed, 11 Dec 2024 18:10:01 GMT

I suffer from the same delusions as this guy. Id be the winner if I made the bet and have the ticket! Sorry pal the ticket is a bearer instrument You need to have the ticket

Comment #25

Artist77 — Wed, 11 Dec 2024 17:46:54 GMT

I agree. I do not view this case any better than the DC guy who purchased a PB ticket when the wrong winning numbers were posted online.

Again, as a plaintiff, why is the complaint not stating the store video would show he purchased both tickets? That would be his best evidence but interestingly, he is not making that claim. He is being very vague. Saying the lottery knows and he always plays those numbers has zero evidentiary value.

I think the lottery knows a lot more than it is sayin... [ More ]

Comment #24

johnnyBlaze — Wed, 11 Dec 2024 17:33:30 GMT

Even if he did purchase the second ticket he shouldn't have a claim unless he presents the other ticket. This sets a bad precedent.

Only exception would be if it was something out of his control. Stupidity shouldn't be rewarded.

Comment #23

noise-gate — Wed, 11 Dec 2024 17:20:13 GMT

* l agree.

Comment #22

Wavepack — Wed, 11 Dec 2024 16:51:28 GMT

If he did indeed buy both tickets, and the video evidence shows him buying both tickets, then he should get the other half of the jackpot.

The key to proving this is to get the video evidence. If I had bought both tickets, I would have called the store manager and had him look at the time stamped times to see what it showed. Then I would have paid the store manager to backup the video evidence to a flash drive (this is very easy to do with security camera systems -- I can do it in 2 minutes

Comment #21

billybucks — Wed, 11 Dec 2024 16:42:42 GMT

So a quick pic came out of the same gas station that had the same winning numbers that he played there for over 30 years and the purchaser of that quick pic ticket lost it. Yes, that happens maybe every 8 months or so all the time.

Comment #20

johnnyBlaze — Wed, 11 Dec 2024 16:32:32 GMT

I agree that it's highly unlikely but doesn't mean it's impossible.

My gut feeling says it's a QP too.

Comment #19

johnnyBlaze — Wed, 11 Dec 2024 16:32:08 GMT

Just cuz the other person's an idiot doesn't mean you can call dibs on the whole. I don't think he bought the second ticket as he waited till the last day and the rules clearly state that it's your responsibility to protect your ticket. Don't expect someone else to clean up your mess.

Plaintiff has suffered financial hardship and emotional distress, including but not limited to, embarrassment, anxiety and mental anguish, all to his general damage in a sum in excess of $50,000.00,

T... [ More ]

Comment #18

Artist77 — Wed, 11 Dec 2024 15:59:33 GMT

Read the other articles. And, yes, it has happened before. I think a QP was printed out.

Comment #17

Powerball765 — Wed, 11 Dec 2024 15:58:52 GMT

When playing the same numbers on both Mega millions and Powerball it's very easy to make a mistake after 35 yrs this is exactly what happened to him But should we feel sorry for him at least he still has $197,000,000

Comment #16

Cruzincat — Wed, 11 Dec 2024 15:55:57 GMT

If two winning tickets are sold and one does not get claimed, isn't that equivalent to only one winning ticket being sold? Why should the government be awarded the second prize? Even if the winner of the first ticket didn't have a valid claim that he purchased both tickets, he should get the prize as if his was the only ticket.

Comment #15

billybucks — Wed, 11 Dec 2024 15:51:32 GMT

Sorry Artist but the odds are insurmountable that someone got a quick pic that duplicated his long playing numbers and then lost the ticket and both tickets were purchased at the same location making it even more unlikely.

Comment #14

Artist77 — Wed, 11 Dec 2024 15:32:25 GMT

This additional info makes me think the second ticket was a quick pick.

Comment #13

Ranett — Wed, 11 Dec 2024 15:30:39 GMT

I'm with Todd on this one, If I knew I had bought both tickets and couldn't find the other ticket then why not take it to the courts and see what they say.

Isn't California the state that confiscates the video from stores that sell the big jackpot tickets

Comment #12

gellis65 — Wed, 11 Dec 2024 15:19:48 GMT

Common sense, dude. You need the other ticket to claim the second amount. He is definitely being greedy. Take your nice win and enjoy life.

Comment #11

Artist77 — Wed, 11 Dec 2024 15:10:39 GMT

Another article has a quote by the lottery stating that it was only possible for the tickets to be purchased in separate transactions.