Top: Americo Lopes exits the courtroom on Wednesday in Elizabeth, N.J.  A jury found that Lopes had cheated five co-workers out of their share of a $38.5 million lottery jackpot. Below: Plantiffs Carlos Fernandes, right, Candido Silva Jr. shake hands. (AP Photos/The Star-Ledger, Frances Micklow, Pool)

ELIZABETH, N.J. (AP) — Five construction workers in New Jersey, vindicated by a jury, must wait before learning exactly how much they'll share of a $38.5 million Mega Millions jackpot that a co-worker who was part of their lottery pool claimed as his own in 2009.

 A jury in state Superior Court in Elizabeth reached a unanimous verdict on Wednesday that Americo Lopes had cheated the men out of their share of the prize.

The panel rejected the 52-year-old's claims that he had won the jackpot on a personal ticket and not with the ticket that he had bought as part of the lottery pool.

Attorney Rubin Sinins, who represented the five men, said each was awarded $4 million because the jackpot was worth $24 million after Lopes chose the cash option.

However attorney Eric Kahn, who also represented the former colleagues, told The New York Times that details on how much each man would receive and how much each might owe in taxes needed to be worked out.

The men started playing the lottery together in 2007 while they worked for Berto Construction Inc. in Elizabeth.

When Lopes hit the Mega Millions jackpot in November 2009, he told his boss he wouldn't be returning because he needed foot surgery, which he never received. He also filed for unemployment benefits after claiming the $17,433,966 prize after taxes.

His wife, Margarida, testified that her husband finally called one of the men in the group in March 2010 and told him about winning.

“Our clients all feel vindicated” by the verdict, Sinins said. “This has been their position all along; they've been challenged in their position and the jury saw it their way. They are very gratified.”

Lopes left court with his wife shortly after the verdict. Speaking in Portuguese, Lopes said he had been robbed, The Star-Ledger of Newark reported.

His attorney, Michael Mezzacca, was disappointed.

“The fact is Mr. Lopes won the lottery by himself with his own money and numbers that he picked,” Mezzacca told the newspaper.

When the verdict was announced, the five plaintiffs embraced. They told The Star-Ledger they'll continue to play the lottery as a group, but would copy the ticket.

“I have a lot to do,” plaintiff Carlos Fernandez said. “My granddaughter was born yesterday. I have to buy her a present she'll remember.”

• Tuesday Poll: 84 of 151 respondents (55.63%) say North Idaho still has a problem with racism that requires the ongoing vigilance of the Kootenai County Task Force on Human Relations. 64 of 151 respondents (42.38%) say North Idaho doesn't have a racism problem. 3 were undecided.
• Today's Poll: Do you play the lottery?

When Holly Lahti found out she won $190 million in the Mega Millions Lottery, she kept her cool. For a moment or two. At first, “she was very quiet about it,” said Leasa Moore, night manager at Ady’s Convenience Store & Car Wash on Seltice Way in Post Falls, where the winning ticket was sold. When Lahti, of Rathdrum, went to the store to check her numbers last week, the employees took her in the back to tell her she won. She was calm at first, but in the backroom Lahti could no longer contain her excitement. She asked if anyone was in the store. When she was told there wasn’t, Moore said she asked, “Can I scream?” And scream, she did/Chelsea Bannach, SR. More here. (AP file photo: Idaho Lottery Director Jeff Anderson)

Question: Would you simply scream if you'd just been told that you'd won the $190 Mega Millions lottery?

Lottery ticket sales have jumped at Ady’s Convenience Store & Car Wash on Seltice Way in Post Falls, where the winning ticket for a Mega Millions $190 million jackpot was sold. The winner, Holly Lahti of Rathdrum, was a regular customer at the convenience store; you can read our full story here at spokesman.com.

The winner of the $190 million Mega Milions Lottery from Idaho - half the full $380 million jackpot - is Holly Lahti of North Idaho, and the ticket was sold at Ady's Convenience & Car Wash on Seltice Way in Post Falls, Idaho Lottery Director Jeff Anderson just announced. He called Lahti “a delightful individual,” but said she's asked for privacy, and the lottery isn't releasing any information about her other than that she's from North Idaho. She turned her winning ticket over to the lottery office in Boise yesterday, at the end of the day, and the lottery has confirmed that it is the winner. It hasn't yet paid, her, however, Anderson said. She has 60 days to decide whether she wants to take the 26 payments over 25 years, or the smaller lump sum of $120 million, which would equal $81 million after state and federal income taxes.

“She's given us an indication that she's willing to talk to the media when she's got her affairs in order,” Anderson said. “As you might expect, there's a lot of things that Ms. Lahti has to get in order.” He said, “We thank everyone who plays our fun and entertaining games.” He said Lahti is an Idaho native, but declined to provide any more information about her. “She's asked that we respect her privacy, so no, I can't,” Anderson said. “There's lots of curious people who want to know the winner is. This is a big deal.” Her name is public record, he said.
  

I never used to buy tickets until I met my husband. He introduced me to the highs and lows of buying that ticket, checking the numbers and then being disappointed that we didn't win. We always talk about what we'd do if we win. He gets really detailed - last night he was already dividing up our winnings between our family members. It's a great dream, isn't it? The dream of taking care of everyone in your family? And all of your friends? The dream of giving to your favorite causes and charities without limit? I blame him for the “let down” I feel today/Maggie O'Mara, KTVB. More here.

Question: Do you feel a little let down today because you didn't win the Mega Millions lottery?

OLYMPIA — The owner of one of two winning tickets in the Mega Million lottery drawing will be introduced to the public at 2 p.m. today, the Washington Lottery office says.

Before taxes, the ticket is worth about $190 million.

The name of the winner hasn't been released, but the ticket was sold in Ephrata, and the ticket holder made the trip over this morning for the ceremonial presentation of an oversized check.

Gov. Chris Gregoire joked at this morning's press conference that after meeting the winner at lunch, she'll ask for a loan for the state.

The Idaho Lottery has confirmed that a Mega Millions ticket worth $250,000 was sold for last night’s draw in Rathdrum, Idaho.  The winning numbers for last night’s $86 million draw were 11, 19, 40, 43, 44 and the Megaball was 33. This winning ticket matched the first five “white ball” numbers, but not the Megaball. … This is the second $250,000 winning Mega Millions ticket in Idaho, both of which were sold in the greater Coeur d’Alene area. The previous $250,000 winner was sold in Coeur d’Alene for the April 17, 2010 draw. That winning ticket has not yet been claimed/David Workman, Idaho Lottery. More here.

Question: What’s the most you’ve ever won in a lottery?

Christopher Shaw, 29, winner of the $258.5M lottery, smiles while talking with reporters following a ceremony at the Missouri Lottery offices Thursday in Jefferson City, Mo. You write the cutline. (AP Photo/Orlin Wagner)

Top Cutlines:

• 1. View from the left: what the average Tea Party member looks like. View from the right: what the average Democratic incumbent will look like on November 3rd — Charles Dixon.
• 2. I just knew if I believed hard enough, that the tooth fairy would come through for me! — JeanieS.
• 3. All the girls seem to love my smile now! Wonder why? — Charlie.
• HM: Arch Druid

Item: Valentine’s Day gift included winning lottery ticket for Hayden woman/Alison Boggs, SR

More Info: The Valentine’s Day gifts Jim Johnson of Hayden purchased for his wife, Irene, included a box of chocolates, a card and a few Lottery Scratch tickets. Johnson had no idea when he went out of town on business that his early gift would have a value of $30,000. “When I called her from the road, I didn’t believe her at first when she told me that she’d scratched the big winning ticket,” Jim Johnson said in a news release issued by the Idaho Lottery.

Question: What is the most money that you’ve won playing the lottery?