Lawsuit claims ex took $5M lotto win
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WINNIPEG — 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.
Krystal McKay claiming the $5-million Lotto 6-49 prize on Jan. 20, 2024. (Supplied)
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 one and a half years, and shared a home and family, it said.
“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.
“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 Winnipeg 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.
» Winnipeg Free Press