Lotto Winner Sues for Unclaimed Share of Prize
One of four people who split a $15.9-million lotto jackpot a year ago is suing the state for the money the fourth winner never claimed.
Federico S. Aguimatang Jr., 42, of San Diego, filed suit Wednesday in Sacramento Superior Court for the unclaimed $3.98-million prize.
The money is the largest unclaimed prize in the state lottery’s 27-month history, said lottery spokesman Robert W. Taylor. Under the law, Taylor said, the money reverted to the state education fund.
Aguimatang’s lawyer, Robert D. Rentzer of Encino, said his client is happy with his millions but deserves at least one-third of the remaining money, if not all of it.
“He doesn’t think that the money should go to education for the same reason he doesn’t reach into his pocket and pay for the school fund right now,” Rentzer told a reporter.
“The school fund is reaping the benefits (from) the sales of millions of tickets. They’ve got the present use of the money and all the interest . . . while my client’s prize is payable over 20 years.”
The fourth winner bought the ticket Jan. 17, 1987, at New Wah Lun Co., a grocery store in San Francisco’s Chinatown. Nobody claimed the money within the 180-day claim period.
Taylor speculated the winner could have been a tourist from another city or country or someone who lost the winning ticket.
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