Faramarz Lahijani has stirred up a legal storm. He believes he is entitled to the full $394 million Mega Millions jackpot. However, the California Lottery is firmly fighting his claim. Lahijani asserts that he purchased two winning tickets. He says one ticket was lost. He wants the second half of the jackpot. But the lottery disagrees. It argues that Lahijani’s story doesn’t hold up. His case has serious holes in it. Lawyers for the state are determined to block his claim.
Laws are clear: No ticket, no prize
The California Lottery is not backing down. It argues that Lahijani hasn’t followed the rules. Mega Millions and California Lottery regulations are strict. A valid winning ticket is required to claim the prize. Without the second ticket, Lahijani has no case. The California Attorney General’s Office backs this stance. The rules are unambiguous. The game is based on submitting the winning ticket. Without it, no prize can be awarded. Lawyers for the state say the case should be dismissed.
Lahijani’s legal action
Lahijani filed a lawsuit on December 4, 2024. He is suing for breach of contract. He insists he purchased two tickets for the December 8, 2023, drawing. Both tickets were winners, he claims. He says he bought them at a gas station in Encino, California. Lahijani also says he has used the same numbers for years. His children picked the numbers. He has been using them for decades. These numbers are 21, 26, 53, 66, 70, and the Mega Ball 13.
Claiming half of the jackpot
Lahijani did step forward in June 2024. He claimed half of the jackpot. He submitted one ticket and won $197.5 million. But he kept quiet about the second ticket. He didn’t reveal it until December 2024, just days before the deadline. Lahijani claims that because he submitted the first ticket on time, he is entitled to the full $394 million. His attorney argues this in the court documents.
Missing ticket creates problems
There’s just one big issue. Lahijani admits he doesn’t have the second ticket. This could be the end of his case. According to California Lottery rules, a valid ticket is a must. Without it, Lahijani cannot claim the second half of the prize. Even though the second ticket’s owner is unknown, Lahijani’s claim is in jeopardy. His chances of winning the full amount look slim.
The gas station’s windfall
The gas station where Lahijani claims to have bought the tickets is also seeing benefits. The Chevron on Ventura Boulevard in Encino sold the winning tickets. As a result, the store earned a hefty bonus. The California Lottery rewards retailers who sell winning tickets. In this case, Chevron earned a record $1.975 million. The bonus is half of 1 percent of the prize value, capped at $1 million. Since two winning tickets were sold, Chevron received $987,500 for each. This was a massive reward for the store.
