WPBN: The winner of a $197 million lottery jackpot is suing the California Lottery to get the whole amount, sparking a high-stakes legal battle. The complainant in the case, Farmarz Lahijani, claims that he bought two winning tickets for the same draw but lost one of them before it could be used.
Lahijani claims he purchased both winning tickets at a gas station in Encino, California, following a lottery drawing in December 2023. This is the source of the controversy. In June 2024 he came forward to claim the award linked to one of the tickets, bringing it to the California lottery and winning the $197 million prize. But this merely marked the start of an odd and complex conflict.
A lawsuit has been filed to recover both tickets
Last Monday, Lahijani filed a complaint in Los Angeles County Superior Court, claiming that he is the legitimate owner of both of the winning tickets from the drawing on December 8, 2023. One of the tickets, he says, was successfully presented, but the other ticket was lost before it expired earlier this month.
The Mega Ball number was 13, and the winning numbers for the draw were 21, 26, 53, 66, and 70. These numbers have special personal significance for Lahijani because his children selected them decades ago, and they have been utilized for lottery plays ever since.
Lahijani’s lawsuit aims to prove that he is the owner of the second winning ticket, which, if it is successful, may grant him the full jackpot instead of just the sum that has already been given out. According to his legal team, his claim is supported by the facts surrounding the purchase and use of the winning numbers.
However, the California Lottery can argue that since lottery regulations frequently call for the actual ticket for validation and prize distribution, proof of possession is an essential component of any claim.
The second ticket’s expiration adds even more complexity and might establish a precedent for future handling of occurrences of this nature.
This case demonstrates the intricacies of lottery laws and the difficulties posed by misplaced or lost tickets. The combination of the lure of a huge windfall and an uncommon legal dispute over ownership rights has made Lahijani’s predicament intriguing to the general public.
The case emphasizes how crucial it is to protect lottery tickets and follow the guidelines for redeeming them, regardless of the outcome. It also calls into question how the policies governing lost ticket claims are handled and whether any changes are required to stop future occurrences of this kind.
At the time, California lottery authorities were unable to determine whether the extremely rare lottery result was a coincidence.
However, they clarified that matching-number tickets may only be bought in distinct transactions.The owner of a winning ticket in California has precisely one year to redeem the prize. Hours before the expiration date, on December 6, the case was filed against the California Lottery.
Regarding the remaining $197 million that comprised the jackpot, Lahijani is suing for breach of contract. He claims there is sufficient proof that he purchased both winning tickets.
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