If it was stolen, they only value the stolen ticket had was its value the moment it was stolen.
So you are saying one can steal a winning lottery ticket, and only be responsible for a dollar’s worth of paper and foil?
Ummm, no.
Correct so far as the offense level for a criminal charge (although would not be shocked to find out there is an exception). If there was a theft of the winning ticket, and the plaintiff could prove it, both of which I doubt, the plaintiff should be able to recover on an unjust enrichment, or some other equitable theory.