Summary
Circle K filed a legal request to determine who owns a $12.8-million lottery ticket, after a store manager bought leftover tickets that were initially unpaid by a customer. The situation arose when a customer did not pay for all ordered tickets, and one of the unpaid ones later won the jackpot. The court will decide the rightful owner of the winning ticket, which could affect how lottery retailers handle similar situations.
Key Facts
- Circle K filed a lawsuit over a $12.8-million winning lottery ticket that was initially unpaid.
- A customer ordered 85 tickets from a Circle K store but only paid for 60.
- The store set aside the unpaid 25 tickets, one of which later won the jackpot.
- Store manager Robert Gawlitza purchased the unsold tickets, including the winner, for $10 after the draw.
- Circle K took the ticket and filed a lawsuit to clarify ownership.
- The case could impact how retailers deal with unsold lottery tickets across the country.
- Under Arizona rules, unsold tickets are usually considered to belong to the retailer if not resold.
- The court will decide who is legally entitled to the lottery prize.
