Lawsuit Filed by American Man Against Powerball Lottery Alleging $340 Million Winnings Mistakenly Categorized as an Error

A man from Washington DC is suing Powerball and the DC Lottery after they mistakenly published his winning numbers, leading him to believe he won the $340 million jackpot. John Cheeks discovered that his ticket matched the winning numbers in January 2023. However, when he presented his ticket to the Office of Lottery and Gaming, his claim was denied. Despite being told to throw away his ticket, Cheeks held onto it and sought legal assistance. He is now suing both the lottery and Powerball for damages, equivalent to the jackpot amount plus the interest he would have earned on it. The confusion arose from a technical error, as a set of test numbers that matched Cheeks' numbers were accidentally posted on the website. The incorrect numbers remained online for three days before being corrected. Cheeks is suing on multiple counts, including breach of contract, negligence, infliction of emotional distress, and fraud. His lawyer argued that since the winning numbers matched Cheeks' numbers, he is entitled to the entire jackpot. Cheeks expressed hope that the justice system will prevail, as the lottery winnings would have been life-changing for him and his family. If successful, he plans to establish a home trust bank to help aspiring homeowners. The next hearing in the case is scheduled for February 23.