California man sues lottery over denied $5M Scratcher winnings

FOX NEWS ^ | 22 JULY 2017 | FOX NEWS

[Extremely Extreme Extremist]

A California man sued the state and California Lottery Commission alleging he was wrongfully denied a $5 million Scratchers ticket prize because his 16-year-old son bought the winning ticket.

Ward Thomas filed a lawsuit with the Los Angeles Superior Court claiming the commission's failure to discharge a mandatory duty, breach of contract, negligence and both intentional and negligent representation. The suit seeks unspecified damages.

[july4thfreedomfoundation]

I’m sure a 16-year-old could get an abortion in California....they just can’t buy a lottery ticket?

[fhayek]

Oh, they can buy a lottery ticket, they just can't win on a lottery ticket.

[LostInBayport]

Thomas says his son bought five Scratchers tickets at a Mobil station on Bellflower Boulevard in Long Beach on Oct. 16 by exchanging other winning tickets. One of the five was a winning ticket with a $5 million prize, the suit states. Thomas validated the ticket at a 7-Eleven store in Long Beach that same day and then validated it again the next day at the lottery office in Santa Ana, the suit states.

If the ticket is a bearer instrument, he could say Elvis, Jim Morrison and Amelia Earhart chipped in and bought it together. As long as he is in possession of it and signs his name to it, the prize is his.

There is a missing piece to this story, methinks.

[Bob]

Oh, they can buy a lottery ticket, they just can't win on a lottery ticket.

A 16-year-old cannot legally buy a lottery ticket or a scratcher in California. The retailer who sold it to him is now in some serious trouble as well.

[E. Pluribus Unum]

How fortuitous for the state. They get to keep the money!

[JohnBrowdie]

states shouldn’t be in the gambling business in the first place.

[JennysCool]

For the second time this afternoon:

Play stupid games ...

[Libloather]

Uh, oh. ID is required while purchasing. Kinda like voting...

[JennysCool]

For sure.

If I FIND a lottery ticket, and it has the right numbers, I’m a winner. Something about this isn’t right.

[JennysCool]

Uh oh is right. I think that’s the explanation we’ve been looking for.

[Surrounded_too]

Welcher.

[gundog]

It’s not really gambling if they won’t pay out.

[Fungi]

Not in Kalifornia. You are reprimanded if you show ID at a precinct.

[PCPOET7]

I agree I hate Lotteries.....as far as I am concerned it is a stupidity tax. I have a problem with government being involved in any form of gambling. I also hate it when gambling is referd to as economical growth for a community.

The truth that gambling is economic masturbation....it creates no product provides no valued service all it does is rearrange where the money is being used in the economy.

I have no problem with a private citizen having a sports pool or playing poker but when government is involved or big business there is a problem because it is an economic stream that benefits only the government or the big corporation. it does not grow the economy in any way.

[Bernard]

Indian Chief: "Is this gambling?"

W.C. Fields: "Not the way I play it."

[unixfox]

The lesson to be learned here is to never ever EVER trust the government. They lie, cheat and steal more than anybody.

So what if his son decided to give him the ticket. He should still be entitled to the winnings.

[Lazamataz]

If Jesus Christ sent the money by Western Union to Daffy Duck for the ticket, and Daffy rode on Santas Sleigh which was pulled by Mighty Mouse to the lotto store, it’s still me holding a valid ticket.

Pay up or be sued into oblivion.

[notaliberal]

If an illegal alien can collect winnings why not a 16 year old.

[Libloather]

From the online rule book - Participants must be 18-years of age or older. That’s a shame.

And, for the record, the only gambling problem I have is that there isn’t a casino within 200 miles!