A dispute over a $12.8 million winning lottery ticket has escalated, with at least three individuals claiming ownership. The convenience store chain Circle K has filed a lawsuit seeking judicial clarification on who is entitled to the prize.
The winning ticket for "the Pick" lottery was printed on November 24, 2025, at a Circle K store in Phoenix. Court filings identify the customer who ordered the ticket as Soonchun Kim. Kim had purchased $60 worth of new tickets, and while checking her numbers, 85 tickets were printed with her chosen numbers, with some falling behind the printer.
Robert Gawlitza, the store manager, reportedly discovered the winning ticket among those that had fallen behind the printer after learning that a jackpot had been won at his location. According to the complaint, Gawlitza clocked out and removed his uniform before purchasing the winning ticket for $10. This action appears to be an attempt to circumvent Arizona Lottery rules that prohibit lottery vendors from buying tickets while on duty.
Further complicating the claim, Gawlitza had a fellow Circle K staffer, Marline Ybarra, sign the back of the ticket. Ybarra is now also asserting a claim to a portion of the $12.8 million winnings. Gawlitza and Ybarra are being represented by the same attorney, and it remains unclear if they have reached an agreement to share the prize.
Soonchun Kim, the customer whose numbers were used for the ticket, has not commented on whether she will pursue her claim. The court has ordered that she be located and brought into the proceedings before a final decision can be made.
In response to the competing claims, the court has suspended the standard 180-day deadline for prize winners to come forward. Circle K is seeking a ruling on the ticket's proper sale, the rightful owner, who can claim the prize, and how the company can avoid liability by adhering to the judge's eventual decision.
Arizona retailers typically earn a 6.5% commission on lottery sales. Businesses that sell a jackpot-winning ticket for in-state draw games over $1 million are also eligible for a $10,000 incentive reward.