That’s what happened in this case, and it happens a lot,” said Peter Hylak, President of Chicago-based Windy City, LLC ( which provided advance-funding options to the winners during the two-year litigation period. It puts winners in a real predicament, like a limbo, especially people who are depending on the money to start a new life or pay down debt, or can’t live normal lives because of media or family tension around them. “Unfortunately, many lotto winners, particularly groups or pools, have problems collecting their winnings because of disputes, whether legitimate or not. The winners of the 2012 Mega Millions jackpot, occasionally referred to as the “Dirty Dozen,” found themselves and their funds gridlocked by law during the two-year legal battle that pushed several of them beyond their available means. 26, 2014 - PRLog - After a highly-publicized 2012 legal battle ended in a payout of $118 million to twelve Illinois bakery workers, the winners opted to pool together again and make more ‘bread’ by investing in a company that helped them while their assets were frozen.Īccording to Illinois state lottery law, no distribution on lotto winnings can be made until all disputes and/or claims are settled.
