California man sues lottery over denied $5M Scratcher winnings

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.

A California Lottery representative did not immediately reply to a request for comment.

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.

However, on Dec. 5, the Lottery Commission told Thomas that his award was being denied because his son was a minor and therefore was "not legally able to play the lottery," the suit states.

The complaint does not state how the commission knew Thomas' son bought the tickets and that the purchaser was under age 18.

No one at the gas station, which also is a defendant, told Thomas' son that he was too young to buy a lottery ticket, the suit states.

The suit further alleges the commission failed to enforce its own rules in the operation of the lottery and that the commission engaged in false advertising by not publicizing that lottery ticket buyers had to be at least 18
years old.


Give the man his money?

Yes

there is probably no Money in the Kitty,considering where it happened,California!

interesting, I am not sure that I remember being required to show id to purchase a ticket

but i do recall that limitations were usually written on the ticket itself


If there is a notice on the ticket, refund the ticket price
if not, honor the ticket

Hell yeah!

When my 8 year old kid went out and bought beer and I drank it all then got pulled over I still got a DUI!

F'n California.

Hmmm, but I wonder. I bought my 12 year old nephews lottery tickets for christmas stocking stuffers. They scratched them off, I took a couple in for the $1 prize they won, then gave them the money that the cashier gave to me.
I wonder if I should be expecting a collection letter soon?

Makes no sense other than the state needs their money.
What is the purpose of selling tickets to a minor if they can't collect the winnings. I guess they could use them for wall paper.

yeah, like the shady investors from California buying out companies and legally seizing employees pension money. How many I have talked to over the years just screwed out of what they worked for and dedicated life to only to be told by thier union ( can't fix it ).