NJ workers sue colleague over $38.5M lottery prize
Mar 6, 2012, 10:35 PM
ELIZABETH, N.J. (AP) – Five New Jersey construction workers are suing a former colleague who claims he was the sole winner of a $38.5 million Mega Millions lottery jackpot.
The workers say they and Americo Lopes were members of a weekly lottery pool. They say each person would contribute $2 and Lopes would buy the tickets.
Lopes says he played the lottery by himself and as a member of the pool. He claims the winning ticket in the November 2009 drawing was one he bought for himself.
Lopes chose the lump-sum payment option and received $24 million. The five plaintiffs are seeking an even split of that money, meaning they and Lopes would get $4 million each.
The trial in the civil lawsuit began Tuesday in Union County.
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