A Circle K employee in Scottsdale, Arizona, is embroiled in a legal battle over a lottery ticket worth $12.8 million [1].
The dispute centers on whether a store clerk or an original customer owns the winning ticket, raising questions about corporate policy and the legal ownership of abandoned property.
The conflict began on Nov. 24, 2025, when a customer left extra lottery tickets behind at the convenience store [1]. Robert Gawlitza, a store clerk and manager, purchased the abandoned tickets. Gawlitza said he was following a company policy that required employees to buy any tickets left behind by customers [4].
One of the tickets Gawlitza purchased later won the $12.8 million jackpot [1]. However, Circle K filed a complaint in February 2026 to determine the rightful owner of the funds [3]. A company spokesperson said Circle K filed the lawsuit to ask the court how best to proceed under these unique circumstances [4].
Reports on the fallout vary. Some sources state Gawlitza was fired after cashing the ticket, while others indicate he remains employed as the legal process continues [2, 5]. An unnamed former Circle K manager said the policy regarding abandoned tickets was changed after the purchase was made, which is why the company is contesting the claim [5].
Legal representatives for the parties are now waiting for a court to decide if the internal policy at the time of the event grants Gawlitza ownership, or if the ticket remains the property of the unnamed original customer [2].
“"I was just following company policy when I bought the tickets."”
This case highlights the legal volatility of 'finder's keepers' when corporate policy intersects with high-value assets. If the court rules that the store policy created a binding agreement for the employee to take ownership of abandoned goods, it could set a precedent for how retail employees handle forgotten items. Conversely, a ruling for the original customer would reinforce the principle that abandonment of property does not automatically transfer ownership to the entity that finds it.
