In Washington, United States, a resident is involved in a legal dispute with Powerball and the DC Lottery after believing he won a US$340 million lottery prize.
He later discovered that this was a mistake on the part of the organization.
John Cheeks, purchased a Powerball ticket in January 2023, choosing his numbers based on family members’ birthdays.
After the draw, Cheeks found the matching numbers on the results website, fueling his hope of winning a big prize.
However, his euphoria quickly ended when he discovered that the numbers released did not coincide with those drawn in Powerball on that date.
Faced with the lottery companies’ refusal to recognize the prize, Cheeks did not give in and sought legal guidance.
While many might have discarded the note after the initial disappointment, Cheeks chose to keep it safe and pursue legal action.
“I got a little excited, but I didn’t scream,” Cheeks told a local website. “I just called a friend. Took a picture like he recommended and that was it. I went to sleep.”
“Hey, that lottery ticket is useless. Just throw it in the trash can,” an employee told Cheeks.
“And I gave him a stern look. I said, ‘in the trash can?’ ‘Oh yeah, throw it away. You won’t get paid. There’s a trash can right there.'”
Positioning of the bettor’s defense regarding the lottery prize
His lawyer, Richard Evans, emphasized the importance of dealing with the error, questioning the responsibility of the companies involved.
“Even if a mistake was made, the question is, what do you do about it?” Evans said.
Lottery companies, however, chose not to comment on the ongoing lawsuit in the United States.
