$12.8M Circle K Lottery Jackpot Dispute Deepens with Additional Employee Claim
Background of the Lottery Dispute
A legal battle has unfolded between Circle K and a former store manager concerning a $12.8 million winning lottery ticket. Recently, the conflict grew more complex when a second Circle K employee stepped forward, asserting a stake in the jackpot prize.
How the Jackpot Ticket Came Into Question
Last November, a customer visited a Circle K in Scottsdale, Arizona, and asked to have several tickets printed for “The Pick,” the state lottery game requiring players to match six numbers drawn later. The clerk printed $85 worth of $1 tickets, but the customer only paid $60, leaving 25 tickets unpaid on the counter overnight. One of these unpaid tickets turned out to be the jackpot winner.
Actions of the Store Manager
The following day, Robert Gawlitza, the store manager, became aware that one of the unbought tickets was the $12.8 million winner. He then reportedly removed his Circle K uniform and bought the remaining tickets, including the winning one, from an employee for $10. After management discovered the transaction, Circle K ordered the ticket to be secured at corporate headquarters and initiated a lawsuit against Gawlitza, which has been ongoing for several months.
New Employee Claim Enters the Dispute
Marline Ybarra, another employee, recently claimed entitlement to a portion of the jackpot. She stated that Gawlitza had asked her to endorse the back of the winning ticket. Court records show she was added as a defendant in an amended complaint last week. Ybarra also claims she found some tickets that had fallen behind the printer and retrieved them. Both she and Gawlitza share the same legal counsel, although it remains unclear if they have agreed on dividing the winnings.
Company and Legal Standpoint
Circle K argues that according to the Arizona Administrative Code, lottery retailers retain ownership of tickets that customers leave unpaid and that are never officially sold. The company is requesting the court to determine whether the ticket was legitimately purchased, who owns it, and who rightfully deserves the $12.8 million jackpot.
The Customer’s Position
Interestingly, Anna Kim, the original customer who paid for the other tickets, is not currently involved in the lawsuit. It is also uncertain whether she plans to participate in the legal proceedings to claim any part of the winnings.
