Who Do You Side With On This $197 Million Lottery Battle?

[Wagerallsports]

Man sues California lottery, claiming he had both tickets for $394 million Mega Millions prize​

A man who claims that he had both of the winning Mega Millions tickets for the $394 million prize in late 2023 is now suing the California Lottery because he's only gotten half of the total prize.

Faramarz Lahijani filed a lawsuit with the Los Angeles Superior Court that alleges he was only granted 50% of the jackpot from the Dec. 8, 2023 drawing. He claims to have purchased both tickets at the Chevron gas station in Encino, using the same numbers — 21, 26, 53, 66, 70 and 13 — on both tickets that he's been using for the last 30 years. They were allegedly chosen by his children.

The lawsuit was filed on Friday, just hours before the second half of the massive jackpot expired. He filed a claim with the lottery commission on Dec. 4.

Upon request for comment, California Lottery told KCAL News that, "It would not be appropriate for the California Lottery to comment on an active lawsuit or any pending litigation to protect the integrity of the process involved."

Lahijani is seeking the other $197.5 million that he believes is his. It's unclear why he did not have the second ticket to claim the prize from lottery officials.

 

[Wagerallsports]

This is a tough one but I have to side with the Lottery

Bottom line is do you have the ticket or not and it’s nobody’s fault but your own that you lost it

Me: I want to go in & see the movie
Theater: ok give me your ticket please

Me: I want to go in and watch the Super Bowl
Security: ok give me your ticket please

Me: I want $197 Million dollars
Lottery officials: ok give me your ticket please

 

[Tanko]

I'm not sure what this guy is thinking....
If he says he won with two tickets, show both tickets. If he does, case is settled. If not, GTFOH.

 

[jjgold]

I wonder how technical machines are and the cameras in the station

 

[Wagerallsports]

I'm not sure what this guy is thinking....
If he says he won with two tickets, show both tickets. If he does, case is settled. If not, GTFOH.

I wonder how technical machines are and the cameras in the station

For sure Lottery officially know if he bought the 2nd ticket or not

But thats besides the point and agree with Tank. Provide the ticket or GTGOH

 

[harpo]

No Ticket = No $$

 

[Franz555]

This is a tough one but I have to side with the Lottery

Bottom line is do you have the ticket or not and it’s nobody’s fault but your own that you lost it

Me: I want to go in & see the movie
Theater: ok give me your ticket please

Me: I want to go in and watch the Super Bowl
Security: ok give me your ticket please

Me: I want $197 Million dollars
Lottery officials: ok give me your ticket please

This

 

[pipe]

He was seen on video to in fact buy both tickets. But. If you have one ticket wtf is the other one. Sucks to lose when you actually won. No ticket no money. Snooze you lose.

 

[sharpsquare]

This is a tough one but I have to side with the Lottery

Bottom line is do you have the ticket or not and it’s nobody’s fault but your own that you lost it

Me: I want to go in & see the movie
Theater: ok give me your ticket please

Me: I want to go in and watch the Super Bowl
Security: ok give me your ticket please

Me: I want $197 Million dollars
Lottery officials: ok give me your ticket please

you either have the ticket or you don't

 

[BMR Genie]

Man sues California lottery, claiming he had both tickets for $394 million Mega Millions prize​

A man who claims that he had both of the winning Mega Millions tickets for the $394 million prize in late 2023 is now suing the California Lottery because he's only gotten half of the total prize.

Faramarz Lahijani filed a lawsuit with the Los Angeles Superior Court that alleges he was only granted 50% of the jackpot from the Dec. 8, 2023 drawing. He claims to have purchased both tickets at the Chevron gas station in Encino, using the same numbers — 21, 26, 53, 66, 70 and 13 — on both tickets that he's been using for the last 30 years. They were allegedly chosen by his children.

The lawsuit was filed on Friday, just hours before the second half of the massive jackpot expired. He filed a claim with the lottery commission on Dec. 4.

Upon request for comment, California Lottery told KCAL News that, "It would not be appropriate for the California Lottery to comment on an active lawsuit or any pending litigation to protect the integrity of the process involved."

Lahijani is seeking the other $197.5 million that he believes is his. It's unclear why he did not have the second ticket to claim the prize from lottery officials.

I don't understand. So, he bought 2 tickets with the same numbers when he purchased at the same time? Why?

Also, yeah, if he lost the ticket, you lose the winnings. Simple.

 

[aikman.tr]

Ontario lotto tracked down a woman that had forgotten about her ticket. She used a debit card so the bank had her phone number.

 

[Tanko]

Ontario lotto tracked down a woman that had forgotten about her ticket. She used a debit card so the bank had her phone number.

Wow. That is amazing. Props to the state for searching the winner out.
In US, if you don't turn in the ticket yourself, the state would just tell you too damn bad.

 

[djefferis]

Legally - it’s simple.

Tickets are bearer instruments. It’s stamped in the legalese on them and in the terms and conditions posted on the game rules.

The holder of the winning ticket is entitled to the prize in the eyes of the law - no ticket/no winner.

Doesn’t matter if you lost it - if it got ran through the washing machine accidentally or if it was destroyed during printing from the lottery terminal.

Unless someone else claims it and you can prove you possessed that ticket and the person claiming wrongfully took it from you - it belongs to the bearer and if there is no bearer - there is no claim to be made.

 

[djefferis]

Even if there was clear video of him buying 2 tickets at the same time - there’s a very good reason why the lotto will not allow him to collect both without both tickets - PRECEDENT.

Once a precedent has been set - it’s hard to turn back. So he bought 2 at the same time - what if the 2nd had a different set of numbers (lotto officials should be easily able to verify both winning tickets were purchased at the same terminal/time - but let’s say they couldn’t). A number of possibilities as to what he may have done with the ticket - and it’s ultimately his responsibility. Paying him would open the floodgates to future unclaimed prizes for people saying they had it and lost it.

 

[MinnesotaFats]

If he's the only one that showed up w a winning ticket & the other didn't that whole prize is his.