Many people dream about winning the lottery. They think of all the things they would buy, the good they could do, and how they would spend their time. What they probably don’t think about is how everyone knowing that you won the lottery could actually have a negative impact on your life.
The Battle to Remain an Anonymous Jackpot Winner
The winner of the Powerball Jackpot – identified as Jane Doe in her complaint – said that she was in a panic upon hearing the winning numbers on January 6th. She signed the back of her ticket with her name, address, and phone number as per the instructions on the New Hampshire Lottery Commission’s website. However, she later learned from attorneys that under New Hampshire’s Right to Know law, she would be treated as if she gave up her right to privacy. The commission informed Doe that if it received requests for her information, it would have to disclose records identifying Doe. The commission also said that if she tried to cross out her name on the Powerball ticket, the ticket would be invalidated.
The New Hampshire Lottery argued that providing anonymity to the jackpot winner would “erode trust in the lottery,” but the judge wasn’t swayed by this argument. In his ruling, Judge Temple said that the attorneys representing Doe and the market where the Powerball ticket was sold were already being pestered with requests for information about the winner.
Related Resources:
- $560 Million Powerball Winner Can Keep Her Name Private, Judge Rules (The New York Times)
- State Gambling and Lottery Laws (FindLaw’s Learn About the Law)
- Right to Privacy Cases Overview (FindLaw’s Learn About the Law)
- Top 5 Legal Tips for Winning the Lottery (FindLaw’s Law and Daily Life)
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