Pair Who Were Denied Jackpot in Lotto Sue State for Winnings
A Mission Viejo man and his nephew, who state lottery officials said were a day too late claiming a $139,585 jackpot, are suing the state for their winnings--plus $1 million for emotional distress.
In a lawsuit filed Thursday in Orange County Superior Court, Paul Manarang, 42, a former convenience store clerk, and his nephew, Jason Quiwa Shauf, 32, of Los Angeles, claim that they were wrongfully deprived of their winnings. Lottery officials say the men missed the 180-day deadline for claiming the prize by one day.
The two men’s attorney, Rick L. Eby, said his clients had met lottery requirements on Dec. 18, 1990--178 days after the $3 Quick Pick ticket was purchased while on a visit to San Francisco--by punching their number into the lottery’s on-line validation system at a Dana Point liquor store. This procedure verified that they had picked five of six numbers correctly.
But because the appropriate forms were not filled out and turned into the lottery’s Van Nuys office until three days later, Dec. 21, the lottery has refused to pay the claim, the largest late claim in Lotto history, according to officials.
Lottery officials could not be reached for comment Thursday. But after the case was reported by the news media, then-lottery director Chon Gutierrez ordered a review. On Feb. 6, 1991, Shauf received a letter from the lottery commission, saying that the review confirmed the initial ruling, that the claim was a day late, and as a result “cannot be honored.”
The men, who said they played the lottery religiously, explained that the ticket had been lost. It was found months later in the glove compartment of Manarang’s car as he was getting ready to sell it.
Eby said that because the men miscalculated the number of days in August, thinking there were only 30 instead of 31, they thought they had until Dec. 21 to file their claim in Van Nuys.
In addition to the $139,585 lottery prize, the men’s lawsuit seeks $1 million “for negligent infliction of emotional distress.”
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