SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — A judge will hear arguments on Friday at the Maricopa County Superior Court regarding a multimillion‑dollar lottery ticket dispute between the convenience‑store chain Circle K and former store manager Robert Gawlitza.
The hearing, set for 10 a.m., will examine two core issues: who legally owns the winning ticket and whether Gawlitza’s termination was lawful. The ticket, part of the state’s “The Pick” game, was valued at $12.8 million.
Background of the case
According to Circle K’s complaint, a customer purchased $60 worth of tickets at the 56th Street and Bell Road location. An additional $85 of tickets were printed, but the customer bought only $60, leaving 25 tickets unsold. The next day, Gawlitza allegedly discovered that one of the leftover tickets was the jackpot winner.
Gawlitza is said to have clocked out, removed his uniform, and asked an employee to ring up the remaining tickets for $10, including the winning one. He claims this followed an unofficial company policy that requires employees to purchase accidentally printed tickets valued over $20, a practice intended to discourage over‑printing.
Company’s position
Circle K cites an administrative rule stating that retailers retain ownership of tickets that are overprinted. The chain argues that the ticket was never legally sold to Gawlitza and therefore remains the property of the store.
Gawlitza’s attorney, Josh Kolsrud, counters that the employee’s receipt shows a legitimate purchase and that the company’s own policy permitted the transaction. He also notes that Gawlitza was terminated shortly after the jackpot was identified, prompting a wrongful‑termination counterclaim.
Legal context and expert commentary
Employment attorney Joshua Carden, who is not involved in the case, explained that Arizona is an at‑will employment state, meaning employers can fire workers for almost any reason. However, he cautioned that a termination must not be based on protected characteristics such as race, gender, religion, or disability, nor on whistleblower status.
“Firing someone because you’re jealous they won the lottery isn’t illegal per se, but it could raise questions if it violates other protected categories,” Carden said.
What’s at stake
The Arizona Lottery continues to hold the $12.8 million prize while the ownership dispute proceeds. If the court finds that the ticket was properly purchased by Gawlitza, the winnings would be split 50‑50 between him and a former co‑worker, as alleged.
Regardless of the employment claims, the judge will ultimately decide whether the ticket legally belongs to Circle K or to Gawlitza. The outcome could set a precedent for how retailers handle accidentally printed lottery tickets in the state.
Next steps
The court’s decision on the ownership question will likely come before any resolution of the wrongful‑termination claim. Both parties are expected to present additional evidence, including text messages between Gawlitza and his supervisor confirming permission to purchase the tickets.
Local residents are watching the case closely, as it highlights the intersection of corporate policy, employee rights, and the handling of high‑value lottery winnings in Arizona.
Original reporting: azfamily KTVK/KPHO Phoenix (news) — read the source article.
