A CALIFORNIA man who says he won both Mega Millions jackpot tickets but lost one is now suing the lottery for refusing to pay up.
Faramarz Lahijani claims he should get the full $394 million prize from the December 8, 2023, drawing, even though he can’t produce the second winning ticket.
GettyLottery officials say rules are rules, and without a second ticket, there’s no second payout[/caption] GettyThe station hit the jackpot too, earning a record-breaking $1.9 million bonus for selling the two winning tickets[/caption] GettyLahijani first came forward in June 2024 with one of the two winning tickets, claiming half of the jackpot – $197.5 million[/caption]The California Lottery isn’t buying it.
Attorneys for the state argued in court Monday that Lahijani’s claim doesn’t hold up and that he failed to follow the rules, New York Post reported.
They pointed to the clear requirement that a winning ticket must be submitted to collect any prize.
“Payment of a Mega Millions prize without the submission of a valid winning ticket is expressly barred,” lottery attorneys stated in court papers, the San Bernardino Sun reported.
LUCK BY CHANCE
Lahijani first came forward in June 2024 with one of the two winning tickets, claiming half of the jackpot – $197.5 million.
But he didn’t mention the missing second ticket until December 4, just three days before the deadline to claim it.
He then sued the lottery two days later, arguing he was entitled to the entire jackpot.
“By virtue of his having timely submitted the first matching ticket, plaintiff is entitled to the entirety of the jackpot,” his lawsuit states.
The California Attorney General’s Office is pushing for the case to be dismissed.
Lottery officials say rules are rules, and without a second ticket, there’s no second payout.
“While this is incredibly unusual and interesting, it’s not unheard of,” a California Lottery spokesperson said back in 2023, per The Post.
“There are any number of explanations; perhaps one person wanted to try their luck on two different rows for whatever reason, or maybe a couple of buddies wanted to try their chances with the same exact numbers. We won’t know exactly how this happened until the prize is claimed,” a Lottery official told The Post.
GAS STATION GETS A CUT
The winning numbers, 21, 26, 53, 66, 70, and gold Mega Ball 13, were numbers Lahijani says he’s played for decades.
Both winning tickets were purchased at a Chevron gas station in Encino, California.
The station hit the jackpot too, earning a record-breaking $1.9 million bonus for selling the two winning tickets.
Under California Lottery rules, retailers earn half a percent of a ticket’s value, up to $1 million per win.
Top lottery winners in the US
Millions dream of winning the lottery and finding fame and fortune. These are the biggest winners in US lottery history.
Edwin Castro – $2.04 billion, Powerball, Nov. 8, 2022, in California. Theodorus Struyck – $1.765 billion, Powerball, Oct. 11, 2023, in California. Unknown winner – $1.602 billion, Mega Millions, Aug. 8, 2023, in Florida. Marvin and Mae Acosta from Los Angeles, California, John and Lisa Robinson from Munford, Tennessee, and Maureen Smith and David Kaltschmidt from Melbourne Beach, Florida – $1.586 billion, Powerball, Jan. 13, 2016. Unknown winner – $1.537 billion, Mega Millions, Oct. 23, 2018, from South Carolina. Unknown winner – he sued the mother of his child to keep his identity hidden – $1.348 billion, Mega Millions, Jan. 13, 2023, from Maine. Unknown winner – $1.337 billion, Mega Millions, July 29, 2022, from Illinois. Cheng and Duanpen Saephan, and Laiza Liem Chao – $1.326 billion, Powerball, April 7, 2024, from Oregon. Yanira Alvarez – $1.08 billion Powerball, July 19, 2023 in California. Wolverine FLL Lottery Club – $1.05 billion, Mega Millions, Jan. 22, 2021, from Michigan. Unknown winner – $842.4 million Powerball, Jan. 1, 2024, from Michigan.Chevron cashed in $987,500 per ticket, bringing its total bonus to $1.975 million.
Lottery officials say the second winning ticket remains unclaimed, with no known owner.
Lahijani’s case is scheduled for a demurrer hearing on October 29, but it could be tossed before then.
A judge will decide if his lawsuit moves forward, or if his jackpot dream is officially over.
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