Dispute over $118 million jackpot goes on
May 29, 2012 7:34PM
Updated: July 3, 2012 12:52PM
Unable to reach a settlement on how to divvy up a $118 million jackpot, former co-workers at a Chicago Heights bakery who were involved in a Mega Millions lottery pool are due back in court June 11 at the Daley Center in Chicago, an attorney said Tuesday.
In two separate lawsuits, four workers at Pita Pan Old World Bakery have sued 12 former coworkers who claim the four are not entitled to share the prize because they did not contribute any new money to the pool for the May 4 drawing.
The four men who filed lawsuits claim they should be included in splitting the $118 million because $9 won in the May 1 drawing was reinvested for the May 4 drawing.
A fifth worker may soon file suit, said attorney Erron Fisher, who is representing two of the four plaintiffs.
Fisher said he hopes the two lawsuits, filed in Cook County Circuit Court, are merged by June 11 and he hopes the case can be settled before it becomes a lengthy court battle.
The winning ticket has not yet been presented to lottery officials, but a hold will be placed on the money because there’s a dispute regarding the proceeds, Fisher said.
The 12 men who contributed new money to the pool and whose entitlement to a share of the winnings is not being questioned have since quit their jobs at the bakery.
Steve Metsch
