Alabama Man Sues Waitress over Lottery Ticket

``In a complaint filed late Friday in Mobile County Circuit Court, Seward contends that lottery winner Tonda Dickerson committed fraud by accepting a lottery ticket from him with the understanding that she would share the winnings with her co-workers.

``Her ticket won the jackpot, and she kept all of the winnings to herself.

``…Seward never would have given Dickerson a ticket if he'd known she wouldn't share the jackpot, his attorney, Stephen Clements, said Friday.

``…Seward, a regular customer at the restaurant, handed out Lotto tickets to Dickerson and four other workers there days before the March 6, 1999, drawing of Florida's state-run lottery game. Each ticket contained five sets of numbers or quick-pics, which means the tickets cost $5 each.

``Dickerson held a ticket that contained the winning numbers.

``When she refused to share the winnings with her four co-workers, Clements helped them file a lawsuit claiming she was obligated by a verbal agreement to share the jackpot.

``Seward testified on behalf of the foursome during the trial, saying there was a deal to share the money. All he expected from the bonanza, Seward said, was a new pickup truck…"

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