Arizona worker sued for buying $12.8M lottery ticket from his store - after knowing it was a winner
The Independent • • business
Key Points:
- Robert Gawlitza, a Circle K manager in Scottsdale, Arizona, is being sued after allegedly purchasing a $12.8 million lottery ticket that was printed but not sold to a customer.
- The lawsuit claims Gawlitza bought leftover tickets, including the jackpot-winning one, from another employee after confirming the ticket was a winner, raising questions about the ticket's legal ownership.
- Circle K argues under Arizona law that unsold tickets belong to the retailer and has asked the court to decide who legally owns the ticket and the prize money.
- The Arizona Lottery confirmed this is an unprecedented case and noted that the winning ticket is part of one of the largest jackpots in the state's history, with a claim deadline of May 23
