Lotto Max Winner Finally Gets to Take Home $33 Million
An Edmonton man can finally take home his massive lottery prize, two months after the April 22nd Lotto Max draw.
Matthew Hayduk's delight at winning the $33,301,693 lottery was turned to frustration and anger, as at least six other people stepped forward to claim that they were the real winners of the prize.
While the majority of these claimants eventually dropped the claims after been threatened with jail time if they were found lying, another man, Ted Baltoussen decided to go all the way, and took the case to court.
However, this week, the court ruled that Hayduk was the true winner of the Western Canada Lottery Corporation Lotto Max prize and that he should be immediately entitled to the money.
Hayduk is keen to get his hands on the millions and leave town as soon as possible. In a written affidavit presented to the court, he said: "Once the prize is paid to me, I will be able to afford to take my common-law wife on a well-deserved vacation and 'disappear' from the media and others."
Claimant Missed the Deadline
Other claimants on the lottery seemed to come out of the woodwork after the lottery corporation began a standard review of the ticket purchase, as is always done when a big win is reported.
The six suggested that they were the rightful owners, but later dropped their claims, until Balthousen was the only one left standing to challenge Hayduk's win.
The judge in the case ordered Balthousen to file an application and an affidavit stating where he bought the ticket and how he came to 'lose' it, by June 21st. After Balthousen failed to make this deadline, the judge ruled in Hayduk's favor.
Following the stress he has gone through in the last two months, including the need for his family to go into hiding after his name was made public, Hayduk has opted not to attend a formal check presentation of his $33 million.
