Arizona Circle K manager Robert Gawlitza sued for buying 12 8M The Pick winning lottery tickets
An Arizona Circle K manager allegedly bought a $12.8 million lottery ticket that was left on the counter overnight, knowing its historical value — as the company says it should get the prize money.
Robert Gawlitza, an employee at the Scottsdale store, was working Nov. 24 when a customer asked to replay the numbers of “The Pick” drawing that night, according to a complaint filed in Maricopa County Superior Court, 12News reported Friday.
The complaint, filed Tuesday, alleges the employee printed $85 worth of $1 tickets, but the customer only paid $60, leaving 25 tickets remaining on the counter.
The tickets remained in the store, untouched, all night until the next morning.
Gawlitza is said to have discovered that his shop had sold a jackpot winner and then looked through discarded tickets before finding the right one.
The winning numbers were 3, 13, 14, 15, 19, 26.
A quick-thinking Gawlitza shut down her work, pulled out her Circle K shirt and bought tickets, including a winner from another employee for $10, the outlet reported.
Circle K executives were quickly notified of the purchase and ordered that the ticket be kept at the company’s office until a judge rules on who owns the $12.8 million ticket.
In its complaint filed against Gawlitza and the Arizona Lottery, Circle K cited the Arizona Administrative Code that says sellers hold property claims on lottery tickets that a customer refuses to pay for and then goes unsold.
The store did not claim ownership of the ticket but asked the court to rule on the conflicting claims, according to the lawsuit.
The Arizona Lottery is not aware of any previous case where a store and employee have had claims against a lottery jackpot.
“This is a unique situation, and we are not aware of any prior cases of this nature involving the Arizona Lottery,” a lottery spokesperson told AZFamily.
The $12.8 billion jackpot was the fourth largest “The Pick” prize sold in Arizona, and the largest since 2019.
The rightful owner has until May 23, 180 days after the drawing, to claim the prize.
Arizona retailers receive a 6.5% commission on lottery sales at their stores, according to the Arizona Lottery.
Businesses that sell a state lottery jackpot ticket, including “The Pick,” are eligible for the incentive, with a $10,000 prize for top prizes of more than $1 million.
