Lottery winner can seek bigger prize at trial, judge rules

May 17, 2019, 12:01 pm (31 comments)

Insider Buzz

"Lucky Larry" may have a shot to win millions more — this time from a jury.

A judge has ordered a trial in a lawsuit filed by Iowa lottery winner Larry Dawson, who contends a $9 million jackpot that he won in 2011 should have been nearly three times as big.

Dawson filed his lawsuit in 2016 after an investigation revealed that lottery contractor Eddie Tipton rigged the previous $16.5 million jackpot, bought the winning ticket himself and unsuccessfully worked with associates to claim it.

Dawson's lawsuit against the Multi-State Lottery Association and the Iowa Lottery contends the $16.5 million should have carried over to the jackpot that he won under Hot Lotto's rules.

Judge Carla Schemmel ruled earlier this month that the association and the lottery are not immune from liability under state law. She says that a "full hearing of this matter" is required to sort out the complex case.

The case is set for trial Dec. 2.

Timeline of the biggest crime in US lottery history

The following is a compilation of Lottery Post news coverage chronicling the Hot Lotto mystery and subsequently discovered crime.

We start the timeline with a news story indicating that only 3 months remained for the $16 million Hot Lotto jackpot to be claimed.

2011

2012

2013

2014

2015

2016

2017

2018

2019

News story photo(Click to display full-size in gallery)

Lottery Post Staff

Comments

Bleudog101

I'm kind of ambivalent about this. He got a nice chunk of change; why line the pockets of attorneys and you might not win.  The Judge seems to be inclined to grant him his wish, though I'm sure the lottery involved has high powered attorneys @ their disposal.  I know some LP members are legal experts, my concern is could he be sued for slander or is the proper word libel???

cottoneyedjoe's avatarcottoneyedjoe

Quote: Originally posted by Bleudog101 on May 17, 2019

I'm kind of ambivalent about this. He got a nice chunk of change; why line the pockets of attorneys and you might not win.  The Judge seems to be inclined to grant him his wish, though I'm sure the lottery involved has high powered attorneys @ their disposal.  I know some LP members are legal experts, my concern is could he be sued for slander or is the proper word libel???

Slander and libel are particular forms of defamation, which means to make false statements (written or spoken) about a person or group that harms their reputation. What false statements has Lucky Larry made about the lottery? Saying that the lottery was rigged is an established matter of fact. Saying that because it was rigged he should win more money is his opinion, and will be decided by the courts. The lottery harmed its reputation all on its own.

Bleudog101

Quote: Originally posted by cottoneyedjoe on May 17, 2019

Slander and libel are particular forms of defamation, which means to make false statements (written or spoken) about a person or group that harms their reputation. What false statements has Lucky Larry made about the lottery? Saying that the lottery was rigged is an established matter of fact. Saying that because it was rigged he should win more money is his opinion, and will be decided by the courts. The lottery harmed its reputation all on its own.

Excellent points there that I didn't consider.  Good luck to him.

Years before retiring, our competitor hospital was sued by patients through Attorneys stating they got MRSA from the hospital.  It has been a community acquired infection for years.  That hospital, like mine, has high powered Attorney's on their staff.   Well tables got turned and those Attorneys got sued for defamation. 

rcbbuckeye's avatarrcbbuckeye

If Eddie doesn't rig that draw, he doesn't win it, and the jackpot rolls, to where Larry Dawson would have won that money.

It doesn't matter that he won 9 million. He should have won what Eddie stole too.

Stack47

For starters it's obvious the drawings were rigged and only one combination had a chance of winning the jackpot. Because one ticket had the winning numbers the jackpot was lowered for the next drawing and that's is basis for the lawsuit. 

IMO a problem with Dawson's case is it can't be proved had the jackpot rolled without the cheating, he would be the eventual single ticket winner. But it will be simple to prove the lottery was negligent in providing fair drawings. And there is the question of what they did with the prize winnings.

Lurking

Raven62's avatarRaven62

In this world you have to be a fighter in order to get what's yours!

JoeBigLotto's avatarJoeBigLotto

I will be very honest. He does not deserve a penny. The only reason he won is because of Eddie . If Eddie did not program he would have lost. So he needs to thank Eddie . $9 million is a lot of money to win in a game people never had a chance 😂 if Eddie knew there was a parasite trying to steal $9 million from is secret number combination eddie would have changed the numbers lol

Stack47

Quote: Originally posted by JoeBigLotto on May 17, 2019

I will be very honest. He does not deserve a penny. The only reason he won is because of Eddie . If Eddie did not program he would have lost. So he needs to thank Eddie . $9 million is a lot of money to win in a game people never had a chance 😂 if Eddie knew there was a parasite trying to steal $9 million from is secret number combination eddie would have changed the numbers lol

Dawson won after Eddie rigged the drawing, but you may be correct if the lottery can prove Eddie rigged all future drawings. But I doubt they'll even try because that would destroy their credibility and open the door to more lawsuits. 

There was $millions spent trying to win a Hot Lotto jackpot and Dawson picked his own numbers to win.

He and his wife started playing Hot Lotto about three months ago after reading a book that claimed to have the secrets to winning the lottery. He followed the recommendations, which included buying 19 plays for each drawing to cover all the Hot Ball options.

At least he stuck with the system long enough to give it a chance.

But he said he was beginning to doubt the book's advice just before he won.

Spending $38 on two draws a week gets old after three months and why Dawson was about ready to hang it up. I'm more interested in the system then the lawsuit. LOL

Artist77's avatarArtist77

Quote: Originally posted by cottoneyedjoe on May 17, 2019

Slander and libel are particular forms of defamation, which means to make false statements (written or spoken) about a person or group that harms their reputation. What false statements has Lucky Larry made about the lottery? Saying that the lottery was rigged is an established matter of fact. Saying that because it was rigged he should win more money is his opinion, and will be decided by the courts. The lottery harmed its reputation all on its own.

Brilliant and down to earth common sense answer. I can always tell the "real legal experts" on lp who provide short common sense answers that all members can understand vs long quasi legalese sounding opinions copied off the internet.

gatorsrok

Quote: Originally posted by rcbbuckeye on May 17, 2019

If Eddie doesn't rig that draw, he doesn't win it, and the jackpot rolls, to where Larry Dawson would have won that money.

It doesn't matter that he won 9 million. He should have won what Eddie stole too.

There is a defense that the state can raise and possibly support with statistical data (at least enough to negotiate a settlement).  Had Eddie not won the fraudulent drawing, the jackpot would have rolled over and been much greater in subsequent draws.  However, the greater the jackpot, the more tickets sold.  If the jackpot had been millions higher, the state would have sold more tickets and there could have been a winner earlier than Larry's win.  It is a bit of speculation, but I'm sure the state can find some expert to testify to it.

maximumfun's avatarmaximumfun

Sounds like "Lucky Larry" may have run through the bulk of his 9M already and now needs more and this might just be an easier way to get it than playing the lottery again?

Stack47

Quote: Originally posted by maximumfun on May 17, 2019

Sounds like "Lucky Larry" may have run through the bulk of his 9M already and now needs more and this might just be an easier way to get it than playing the lottery again?

I hope not because Lucky Larry is a financial adviser.

noise-gate

Lucky Larry better hope that the jury they empanel are not sore lottery losers. They could figure that Larry got lucky in the past, why add more to his windfall. There are lots of bitter folks out there. Ex wife, ex gf who offs the ex because “ if l can’t have you, no one can.” It’s a jungle out there.Let’s hope that the luck Larry lives by, can see him through these trying times. 

Onelast8

Larry may get lucky again but I also see the tables turn around on him if they stastic expert say that might have not won at all if the jackpot rolled over and lottery decides to rule his win disqualified due to the tampering of the machine I hope not but they could then take back his win.

We will see how the lottery plays the numbers game come Dec.

Personally I hope he wins and the lottery pays out triple + lawyer fees.

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