Winnipeg judge grants injunction in $5 million lottery lawsuit

A former couple’s quarrel over a winning lottery ticket returned to a Winnipeg court. CTV’s Daniel Halmarson has more.

A Winnipeg woman is barred from selling or gifting anything of value she’s purchased since winning a Lotto 6/49 jackpot last year.

On Friday, a Manitoba Court of King’s Bench judge issued a temporary injunction preventing Krystal McKay from offloading any real estate, vehicles, and other valuables because her ex-boyfriend, Lawrence Campbell, has filed a lawsuit alleging the $5 million winnings belong to him.

The injunction restrains and forbids McKay from selling or transferring anything else she owns over $3,500 that she did not possess prior to the lottery win.

McKay must also provide Campbell and lottery corporations a list of her assets valued at more than $3,500.

The injunction remains effective until further notice from the court.

Campbell launched the lawsuit earlier this month against his ex-partner, McKay, as well as the Western Canada Lottery Corporation and Manitoba Liquor and Lotteries Corporation.

According to the lawsuit, on Jan. 19, 2024, Campbell went to the CanCo convenience store on Isabel Street to buy a 6/49 lottery ticket.

At the time, Campbell and McKay were in a romantic relationship, described as ‘loyal, committed and promising,’ according to the lawsuit.

The lawsuit said that after Campbell purchased the ticket, he handed it to McKay since he had recently lost his wallet.

The ticket was forgotten until a few days later when Campbell found it on the ground when he was at a friend’s house. Campbell scanned the barcode of the ticket using his phone and found out that he won, according to the lawsuit.

“I was happy, excited, like a life-changing type of deal. I thought (we were) just going to live off the happy life,” Campbell told reporters Friday morning. “I thought I was in a good relationship with her and a healthy one. I didn’t think it was going to go this bad for me at the end.”

Issues started to surface, the lawsuit said, when the pair spoke with an agent from the Western Canada Lottery Corporation, telling them that Campbell cannot claim the winnings due to his lack of valid government-issued ID.

Instead, the lawsuit states, they were told to let McKay publicly claim the win. McKay successfully deposited the $5 million since Campbell did not have an active bank account.

Following the lottery win, the lawsuit claims McKay disappeared until being found with another guy.

Campbell also alleged in the lawsuit that McKay wanted to terminate their relationship and she refused to answer any of Campbell’s calls and messages, blocked him on social media, and placed a protection order against him.

The allegations in the lawsuit have not been tested in court.

Campbell’s legal counsel, Chad Panting, hopes to settle this matter rather than continuing to trial.

“We’re going to be open to negotiating, but it’s going to have to be for an amount above $5 million,” said Panting.

Conor Williamson, McKay’s lawyer, told CTV News that McKay challenges the allegations against her and will file a statement of defence.

Manitoba Liquor and Lotteries Corporation and Western Canada Lottery Corporation took no position on the injunction.

CTV News has reached out to the corporations for comment.