The Hoosier Lottery Commission in Indiana has approved a $50,000 Powerball prize for a man named Paul Marshall, even though his winning ticket was torn to pieces by a store employee. The decision came during a recent meeting in Indianapolis, where five commissioners unanimously supported Marshall’s appeal.

Hoosier Lottery Commission Validates $50,000 Win

The incident unfolded when Marshall returned to the store where he purchased the winning ticket to validate it. A store employee, in the habit of tearing up lottery tickets after checking them with the lottery terminal, mistakenly shredded Marshall’s winning ticket. Indiana retailers are not authorized to pay out prizes exceeding $600, adding to Marshall’s predicament.

When Marshall went to the claim center with the printed slip containing instructions on prize collection, he was informed that the physical ticket was required for payout. Fortunately, lottery officials were able to reconstruct the sequence of events by visiting the store and reviewing video surveillance footage, confirming Marshall’s account.

Chuck Taylor, the lottery director of legal affairs and compliance, stated that the commissioners unanimously approved Marshall’s prize payout after verifying the authenticity of his claim, reported The Lottery Post. 

The Hoosier Lottery Commission attributed the clerk’s mistake to muscle memory. However, all is well that ends well and Marshall can now celebrate his $50,000 Powerball win, turning a torn ticket mishap into a fortunate twist of fate.

While Marshall’s story had a happy ending, another individual, Drena Harris, faced a less fortunate outcome. Harris, who won $500 on a scratch card, had her claim denied by the commissioners. Her winning ticket, posted on Facebook, was fraudulently claimed by one of her followers, who managed to cash out the prize before Harris could collect it. The lottery commission emphasized the importance of caution when sharing lottery wins on social media, citing Harris’s case as a cautionary tale.

In other lottery news, a cashier’s error at a Michigan gas station led to a $390,000 windfall for Lucky for Life player Michael Sopejstal from Illinois. The cashier mistakenly printed a ticket with 10 lines for one draw instead of 10 draws, and when Sopejstal opted to keep the ticket, he later discovered he had won the $25,000 a year for life jackpot. Despite contemplating the lifetime option, Sopejstal ultimately chose the lump sum and plans to use the money for a vacation, saving the remainder.

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