In a shocking turn of events, a California man is taking legal action against the Mega Millions lottery, claiming that he was unfairly denied a life-changing jackpot. Faramarz Lahijani, a resident of Los Angeles County, says he is the rightful winner of a massive Mega Millions prize, but alleges the lottery system failed him. He has filed a lawsuit demanding answers—and millions of dollars in damages.
Lahijani says he played the numbers fair and square, only to have his winning ticket rejected without a clear explanation. His lawsuit accuses multiple parties, including state lottery officials and the Mega Millions consortium, of negligence, mishandling, and possibly even fraud.
The legal filing has sparked a wave of interest from both the public and lottery experts, with many wondering: Could this case expose a serious flaw in one of America’s most popular games of chance?
According to court documents filed in early April 2025, Lahijani says he purchased a Mega Millions ticket in January 2024 from a convenience store in Glendale, California. He claims that after the winning numbers were announced, he immediately recognized that his ticket matched the draw.
Excited about what he believed to be a multi-million dollar windfall, Lahijani says he went to a California Lottery office to claim his prize. But instead of receiving a giant check, he was allegedly told that his ticket was invalid. The reason, he says, was never made clear.
“They didn’t give me a reason. They just said the ticket couldn’t be verified,” Lahijani said in a statement through his attorney. “But I know what numbers I played. I know that ticket was a winner.”
His legal team argues that Lahijani followed every proper step to claim his prize, and that any technical or administrative errors should not strip him of a legitimate win.
The lawsuit names multiple defendants, including the California State Lottery Commission and the Multi-State Lottery Association (MUSL), which oversees national lottery games like Mega Millions and Powerball. Lahijani is seeking both compensatory and punitive damages—though he hasn’t yet publicly stated an exact dollar amount.
Some reports suggest the prize he believes he won could be upwards of $50 million, depending on the draw in question. His legal team has hinted that they may push for damages beyond the ticket’s face value, citing emotional distress, reputational harm, and the potential loss of future earnings tied to the publicity a jackpot win brings.
As of now, the California Lottery has declined to comment in detail on the lawsuit. A spokesperson said they do not discuss ongoing litigation but added, “The California Lottery takes every claim seriously and follows strict procedures to ensure fairness and transparency.”
Mega Millions officials also issued a brief statement, saying the integrity of the game remains a top priority and that every winning ticket is thoroughly checked through secure systems. They insisted that “errors in ticket validation are extremely rare.”
Still, the lawsuit raises unsettling questions. If Lahijani’s claims turn out to be true, could there be other winners who were wrongly turned away? Is there a blind spot in the validation process that needs urgent fixing?
“This case could be a game-changer,” said attorney Melissa Dade, a legal analyst who specializes in consumer rights and fraud cases. “Lottery systems are supposed to be airtight. If Mr. Lahijani can prove that his ticket was valid and was dismissed without proper justification, it opens up a can of worms.”
Dade said the court would likely demand digital records, ticket serial data, and security footage from the store where the ticket was sold. She also noted that Mega Millions, while a public game, is operated by a complex network of state agencies and private tech vendors—adding layers of difficulty to any investigation.
“There are a lot of moving parts,” Dade explained. “But if there’s even a slight chance of foul play, it has to be looked at seriously.”
News of the lawsuit quickly spread on social media, with many people expressing sympathy for Lahijani and sharing their own frustrating experiences with lottery tickets.
“I’ve had tickets that looked like winners but the machine said ‘not a winner.’ Always wondered if something shady was going on,” wrote one user on X (formerly Twitter).
Others, however, remain skeptical. “Everybody thinks they’ve won the lottery. You can’t just sue because your ticket didn’t hit,” said another commenter.
The case is already fueling new conspiracy theories about lottery fairness and transparency. While no evidence has surfaced that suggests wide-scale corruption, the lawsuit is likely to put lottery operations under more public scrutiny than they’ve seen in years.
Lottery officials often say the system is secure and built with multiple checks. Tickets are printed with barcodes, timestamps, and other digital markers that are supposed to make fraud nearly impossible. However, human error—at the store level or within processing systems—can still occur.
Experts advise players to always sign the back of their tickets, keep physical copies in a safe place, and claim prizes as soon as possible to avoid complications. In most states, winners have 180 days to one year to claim prizes depending on the size and type.
Lahijani says he did everything right. Whether the court agrees could have major implications for how lottery tickets are validated and how disputes are resolved.
The case is expected to proceed to an initial hearing within the next few months. Lahijani’s legal team has indicated they may request access to internal lottery communications and software logs. If a settlement isn’t reached, the lawsuit could go to trial, making it one of the most high-profile lottery cases in recent memory.
For now, Lahijani says he just wants justice—and the prize he believes is rightfully his.
“I’m not doing this just for myself,” he said. “I’m doing it for everyone who plays the lottery and expects fairness.”
As the story unfolds, all eyes will be on the courtroom—and the billion-dollar industry behind America’s dream of instant riches.
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