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Winnipeg Free Press
01-07-2025
- Winnipeg Free Press
Woman in $5-M lotto fight with ex says money is hers
The woman being sued by her ex-boyfriend over a $5-million lottery ticket says it was a gift and she is the rightful winner. In a statement of defence filed in the Court of King's Bench on June 27, Krystal McKay claims Lawrence Campbell purchased the Lotto 6/49 ticket for her one day before her birthday as a present. In a lawsuit filed May 14, Campbell claimed he bought the ticket in January 2024, 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. SUPPLIED Krystal McKay claimed the $5-million Lotto 6/49 prize on Jan. 20, 2024. McKay said in court papers no such discussion occurred. 'There was never a discussion between the parties, nor with (Western Canada Lottery Corp.), as to this defendant claiming the prize on behalf of the plaintiff due to his lack of government-issued identification,' the court filing says. McKay and Campbell went to the WCLC building on Jan. 22, 2024 to claim the prize money, the statement of defence said. There, McKay signed multiple documents, including one in which she claimed to be the lawful holder of the ticket. 'The plaintiff was present with her and did not dispute this or suggest otherwise,' the statement of defence reads. Campbell signed a release of claim, which acknowledged he did not have any claim to, or interest in, the ticket or corresponding prize, the court papers say. Campbell's lawsuit claims the pair were in a 'loyal, committed and promising romantic partnership' at the time and accuses McKay of cutting contact with him shortly after the funds were deposited in her bank account. McKay's lawyers minimized that claim in the statement of defence, and said they had dated on and off following the death of Campbell's mother in 2022. In fact, McKay asked that they end the relationship in December 2023, one month before the lotto win, the statement of defence says. McKay denies she 'ghosted' Campbell or refused to take his phone calls or answer his messages. Campbell's suit claims she took out a restraining order against him after the lotto win, which she denied. The court filing claims McKay had the ticket in her wallet and, one morning after waking up in a friend's basement, Campbell saw the ticket on the floor and asked McKay to check the numbers. 'The plaintiff saw the lottery ticket and handed it to her for her to check, at which time she went directly to the Lotto 6/49 website … when this defendant realized she won, she advised the plaintiff… The plaintiff never stated, nor was it discussed that he had won the Lotto 6/49 jackpot,' the court papers say. The statement of defence says a video taken by Campbell at the 777 Sherbrook St. Shoppers Drug Mart shows McKay confirming the winnings. Campbell states in the video his 'girl won the lotto.' The lottery corporations jointly issued a news release on Jan. 30, 2024, announcing McKay as the winner of the $5-million prize. It said McKay's partner gave her the winning ticket as a birthday gift. Campbell's lawsuit denied he bought the ticket 'solely as a birthday gift,' instead saying he purchased the ticket himself, but asked her to hold onto it because he 'had recently lost his wallet.' Campbell's lawyer, Chad Panting, called the statement of defence 'absurd, ungracious and selfish.' 'It doesn't surprise (Campbell) that Miss McKay would deny the allegations, but to deny the 'trust' inherent in accepting such a 'romantic birthday gift' from a 'romantic partner' in a 'romantic relationship,' itself in such a selfish manner, is what goes too far for the plaintiff, and only compounds his shock, disbelief and emotional heartbreak,' Panting said in a statement to the Free Press Monday. On June 13, Court of King's Bench Justice Brian Bowman ordered McKay's assets frozen and approved a temporary injunction prohibiting her from selling or transferring real estate, vehicles or anything that has a value greater than $3,500 while the case proceeds. Tuesdays A weekly look at politics close to home and around the world. The order only applies to property and items McKay purchased after the $5 million was deposited into her bank account. The court compelled her to provide a list of her assets worth more than $3,500, so it can be reviewed by lawyers. Campbell's lawsuit also names the WCLC and Manitoba Liquor & Lotteries as defendants. It claims the WCLC provided improper advice to Campbell, and accuses Manitoba Liquor & Lotteries of having deficient or non-existent oversight when disbursing the funds. The claims haven't been tested in court. The WCLC and Liquor & Lotteries haven't issued statements of defence. Nicole BuffieMultimedia producer Nicole Buffie is a multimedia producer who reports for the Free Press city desk. Born and bred in Winnipeg, Nicole graduated from Red River College's Creative Communications program in 2020 and worked as a reporter throughout Manitoba before joining the Free Press newsroom in 2023. Read more about Nicole. Every piece of reporting Nicole 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.
Winnipeg Free Press
20-05-2025
- Winnipeg Free Press
‘Ghosted' ex sues former girlfriend, says she took his $5-M lotto winnings
A Winnipeg man is suing his former romantic partner, alleging he unwittingly agreed to name her as the winner of a $5 million lottery ticket before she 'ghosted him' and ran off with the money. Lawrence Campbell filed the lawsuit in Manitoba Court of King's Bench on May 14, naming Krystal Ann McKay, the Western Canada Lottery Corp. and Manitoba Liquor and Lotteries as defendants. The statement of claim alleges Campbell purchased the winning ticket from an Isabel Street convenience store in January 2024, but allowed McKay to claim it as her own after meeting with a lottery agent 'who lead (sic) the plaintiff to believe' he could not receive the winnings without presenting a valid, government-issued ID. Campbell, who also did not have an active bank account, agreed to allow McKay to sign the ticket and hold the winnings for him in trust, the lawsuit said. The pair had been dating for about 1 1/2 years, and shared a home and family, it said. SUPPLIED Krystal McKay claiming the $5 million Lotto 6/49 prize, January 20, 2024. SUPPLIED Krystal McKay claiming the $5 million Lotto 6/49 prize, January 20, 2024. 'The plaintiff had every reason to trust the spousal defendant as they were, at that time, in a loyal, committed and promising romantic partnership,' the lawsuit said. Less than two weeks after the money was transferred into McKay's account, Campbell alleges she did not return to a hotel room where they planned to stay the night together. 'He set out to visit a few of her known spots where she would party and sure enough after some investigation, he found her; in bed, with another guy,' the lawsuit said. 'In subsequent conversations with him, the spousal defendant mentioned to the plaintiff that she wished to terminate the relationship to be with this new guy.' McKay then cut all ties with Campbell, according to the claim. 'She ghosted him, refused to take his calls or answer his messages, she blocked him on her social media accounts; and even took out a protection order,' it said. None of the claims have been tested in court, and the defendants have not issued statements of defence. The lawsuit claims Campbell is entitled to the $5 million because he purchased the ticket. It asks the courts to issue a constructive trust over the winnings and award assorted damages in favour of Campbell. A constructive trust is a legal tool that can transfer ownership of money or property to one party, without the consent of the other. Tuesdays A weekly look at politics close to home and around the world. 'Nowhere in the law is it permitted for someone who alone purchased a winning lottery ticket to effectively be defrauded by a former romantic partner and then held, by operation of the law, a lottery loser; This case will not be the exception,' Campbell's lawyer, Chad Panting, said in a statement to the Free Press. 'Mr. Campbell alone won the January 20th 2024, lotto-649 Classic jackpot and intends on proving it in court, if necessary.' The lawsuit claims the Western Canada Lottery Corp. provided improper advice to Campbell, and accuses Manitoba Liquor and Lotteries of having deficient or non-existent oversight when disbursing the funds — making both organizations vicariously liable, it said. The lottery corporations jointly issued a news release on Jan. 30, 2024, announcing McKay as the winner of $5-million lottery prize and the first Manitoban to become a lotto millionaire that year. It said McKay's partner gave her the winning lottery ticket as a birthday gift. Campbell's lawsuit does not mention a birthday gift, instead saying he purchased the ticket himself, but asked her to hold onto it because he 'had recently lost his wallet.' Two days later, Campbell found the ticket on the floor at a friend's house and realized it was a winner after checking the numbers on his cellphone. He and McKay then went to scan the ticket at a Shoppers Drug Mart and filmed a video of them celebrating together, the lawsuit said. In the lottery release, McKay is quoted as saying she 'screamed' when she checked the winning numbers, and she immediately called her sister who began to scream, as well. 'I was so excited and crying — I just couldn't believe it,' McKay said in the release. The release said McKay planned to spend the money on her children and buy a home for her family. The Free Press was unable to reach McKay for comment Tuesday. Neither lottery corporation responded to requests for comment. Tyler SearleReporter Tyler Searle is a multimedia producer who writes for the Free Press's city desk. A graduate of Red River College Polytechnic's creative communications program, he wrote for the Stonewall Teulon Tribune, Selkirk Record and Express Weekly News before joining the paper in 2022. Read more about Tyler. Every piece of reporting Tyler 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.
Calgary Herald
02-05-2025
- Business
- Calgary Herald
$143 million up for grabs this weekend from Lotto Max and Lotto 6-49
Lucky lotto players could find themselves many millions of dollars richer before the weekend is over. Article content Article content The Western Canada Lottery Corp. is touting $143 million in combined prizes in upcoming draws for Lotto Max on Friday night and Lotto 6-49 on Saturday night. Article content Friday's Lotto Max jackpot for the main draw will be $70 million, in addition to an estimated 10 Maxmillion draws, WCLC said in a news release. Article content Article content Meanwhile, Saturday's Lotto 6-49 Golden Ball jackpot has reached $58 million, in addition to the classic jackpot prize of $5 million, the lotto corporation said. Article content Article content Last year, the number of Albertans claiming prizes of at least $1 million dwarfed those in the other Prairie provinces, with 55 winners taking home $237.3 million, according to WCLC. Article content
