Lotto corporation denies liability in lawsuit over $5-M ticket
The Crown corporation issued a statement of defence that argues the claim against it, filed by the ex-boyfriend on May 14, has no merit and must be dismissed.
'(MLL) specifically denies that it was responsible for prize investigation, prize authorization or prize payouts,' reads its court filing.
SUPPLIED
Krystal McKay claiming the $5 million Lotto 6/49 draw on Jan. 20, 2024.
It's the latest development in the case launched by Winnipegger Lawrence Campbell against Krystal McKay, which also names Liquor & Lotteries and the Western Canada Lottery Corp. as defendants, over the winning Lotto 6/49 ticket purchased in January 2024.
'This action ought to be dismissed as against (MLL), with costs,' reads the Crown corporation's statement of defence, which was filed Monday.
Campbell argues he bought the ticket for himself, but allowed McKay to claim it as her own, believing he could not receive the money unless he had government-issued ID and an active bank account. He claims she 'ghosted' him and absconded with the money.
In her statement of defence, McKay claims Campbell purchased the ticket as a present for her one day before her birthday, meaning the money is rightfully hers. She said there was no discussion about him getting the cash.
Campbell's lawsuit claims the Western Canada Lottery Corp. provided improper advice to him and it accuses Manitoba Liquor and Lotteries of having deficient or non-existent oversight when the money was disbursed. The suit argues both entities are vicariously liable.
Liquor & Lotteries says it does not conduct, manage or operate WCLC's games, including Lotto 6/49. Its responsibilities were limited to distributing and marketing the lotto, it says.
The lottery corporations jointly held a news conference on Jan. 30, 2024, to announce McKay as the winner of the $5-million lottery prize and the first Manitoban to become a lotto millionaire that year.
Liquor & Lotteries says WCLC invited it to the news conference as its marketing partner.
It denies any responsibility for Campbell's claims.
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'At all material times, (Liquor & Lotteries) acted within the scope of its duties and in accordance with its obligations pursuant to applicable legislation and that no act or omission by it was the cause of any legally compensable harm suffered by the plaintiff,' argue the court filings.
WCLC has yet to file its statement of defence.
On June 13, a judge ordered McKay's assets temporarily frozen and approved an injunction that temporarily prohibits her from selling or transferring real estate, vehicles or anything that has a value greater than $3,500, while the case proceeds through court.
The order only applies to property and items McKay purchased after the $5 million was deposited into her bank account.
erik.pindera@freepress.mb.ca
Erik PinderaReporter
Erik Pindera is a reporter for the Free Press, mostly focusing on crime and justice. The born-and-bred Winnipegger attended Red River College Polytechnic, wrote for the community newspaper in Kenora, Ont. and reported on television and radio in Winnipeg before joining the Free Press in 2020. Read more about Erik.
Every piece of reporting Erik produces is reviewed by an editing team before it is posted online or published in print — part of the Free Press's tradition, since 1872, of producing reliable independent journalism. Read more about Free Press's history and mandate, and learn how our newsroom operates.
Our newsroom depends on a growing audience of readers to power our journalism. If you are not a paid reader, please consider becoming a subscriber.
Our newsroom depends on its audience of readers to power our journalism. Thank you for your support.
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