Lawsuits consolidated in Mega Millions case
June 25, 2012 10:18PM
Updated: July 28, 2012 6:15AM
Lawsuits filed by five former or current employees of a bakery in Chicago Heights against 12 former coworkers claiming they are entitled to a share of a Mega Millions lottery prize worth $118 million have been consolidated.
Erron Fisher, an attorney who represents two plaintiffs, said Monday that consolidation “makes sense” because the allegations are basically the same.
A status hearing is set for July 19 before Judge Kathleen Pantle for the case involving those who were part of a lottery pool at the Pita Pan Bakery, 401 E. Joe Orr Road.
The contested money has not been paid out.
“As of now, the money is still with the state awaiting a court order, and that does not appear that will happen any time before July 19,” Fisher said.
The plaintiffs contend they should be entitled to a share of the big prize because their money was invested in the pool used to buy tickets for a May 1 drawing that won $9, and that $9 was reinvested in the May 4 drawing that saw the group get the ticket worth $118 million. The defendants claim to have paid additional money into the pool for the May 4 drawing and do not believe the prize should be divided beyond their group of 12.
Steve Metsch
