Woman sued by former partner over $5M lottery prize claims she was rightful winner
Krystal McKay was presented with the Lotto 6/49 prize in January 2024, but her former boyfriend, Lawrence Campbell, filed a lawsuit in May of this year claiming he purchased the winning ticket and was its sole owner, making him entitled to the prize.
His lawsuit alleged he granted McKay permission to claim the lottery ticket and hold the winnings in trust for him because he didn't have an active bank account or government-issued photo ID at the time.
In a defence statement filed in court June 27, McKay alleges that on the day before her birthday in January 2024, she and Campbell were driving past a Winnipeg convenience store when she asked him to stop and buy her a lottery ticket.
After he did that, she put the ticket in her wallet.
"There was no discussion at this time, or at all, that it was not [McKay's] ticket," her statement of defence claims.
It also says that when McKay signed the winning ticket at a Shoppers Drug Mart store, there was no discussion about McKay claiming the winnings on Campbell's behalf.
She and Campbell went to the office of the Western Canada Lottery Corporation — the non-profit corporation that manages lotteries for several provincial governments, including Lotto 6/49 — to sign a number of documents on Jan. 22, 2024, where she "claimed to be the lawful holder of the ticket" and that "no other person had any interest or right to … any portion of the prize," her defence statement says.
Campbell "was present with her and did not dispute this or suggest otherwise," and signed a WCLC release in which "he acknowledged he did not have any claim to, or interest in, the ticket or any prize resulting," according to the court document.
When asked by WCLC whether he was making a claim to the money, Campbell said the ticket belonged to McKay, "as it was purchased for her," her defence statement says.
It also says there was never any discussion between the two about McKay claiming the prize on behalf of Campbell because of a lack of government-issued identification, the document says.
While Campbell's lawsuit claims McKay "ghosted" him, refusing to take his calls after the win, McKay alleges that in December 2023, prior to the lottery win, she had told Campbell she wanted to end their relationship.
Her defence statement also denies Campbell's allegation that he found her in bed with another man in the month after the lottery win, and she denies the claim she "used the conflict between them to deprive [Campbell] from access to his rightful monies."
Her allegations have not been tested in court.
Campbell's lawyer filed a court motion asking a judge for an order to prevent McKay from giving away any of her money or selling other assets while the lawsuit is in progress.
After a June 13 court hearing, a judge issued an interim injunction prohibiting McKay from selling or transferring any real estate, vehicles or other property she owns that has a value of more than $3,500, until there's a further order from the court.
The injunction applies to things McKay acquired after receiving the lottery money.
Western Canada Lottery Corporation and Manitoba Liquor & Lotteries Corporation are also named as defendants in Campbell's lawsuit.
In a defence statement filed Monday by Liquor & Lotteries, the Crown corporation denies the allegations in the lawsuit, saying its responsibilities are limited to the distribution and marketing of lottery games.
The corporation "specifically denies that it was responsible for prize investigation, prize authorization, or prize payouts," its statement of defence says.
In response to the lawsuit, Liquor & Lotteries says it "acted within the scope of its duties" and did nothing to cause any "legally compensable harm" to Campbell.
Campbell's lawyer Chad Panting disputes that.
"Should a player-funded Crown corporation really be denying their duties owed to their most vulnerable players?" he wrote in a statement to CBC.
He pointed to Liquor & Lotteries' "play responsibly" messaging, saying the Crown corporation should "embody their very own 'lotto motto.'"
Campbell also provided a statement issued through his lawyer, directly referencing McKay.
"I was in love with you and would have done (nearly) anything for you," Campbell wrote, but "[you] abused it and me for your benefit."
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