In another gaming story, Elida Betancourt’s emotions ran the gamut from ecstasy to depression, and she burst into tears as she matched her lottery ticket numbers one by one to those reported by the Fresno Bee as the winning numbers to a $54 jackpot only then to learn that the newspaper reported the wrong numbers. She is threatening to sue.
I would be angry too, but does she have a case?
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I do not think Elida has a case to sue. She should check her numbers with the lotto itself because everyone makes errors and a newspaper can very well have typos in it. I know that the paper where we live makes mistakes all the time but never has been sued. She will just have to keep trying and see if she actually wins by checking the numbers on the lotto sight or by watching the balls drop down themselves. Don't rely on a paper when it is that big.
ReplyDeleteAs much as my heart goes out to Ms. Betancourt, I do not think that she has a case against the newspaper that incorrectly listed the lotto numbers. The news paper is just one source to get the numbers, but because they do make mistakes, the numbers should always be checked with the lottery commission or the store at which the ticket was purchased. Hopefully the paper apologized for any and all miscommunications and confusion that they may have caused.
ReplyDeleteMaria Lozano
ReplyDeleteI don't think Ms. Betancourt has a case. If we really start analysing the newspaper we would see how many mistakes they might make per year. Even though Ms. Beatancourt got her hopes up in beleiving she had one the lottery she should had checked it twice on the main lottery website.
She has no case because the paper reports all kinds of things all the time and there is bound to be a few typos, and miss prints. I can understand her anger and even her wanting some kind of reimbursement, but its not the papers fault, they cant change the numbers so she should have checked with the company directly.
ReplyDeleteI don't believe she has a case! Yes she should be mad. I would be too! The fact though is the newspaper made a mistake. The most they should do is reinburse her for the price of the lottery ticket. She didn't actually win and should keep trying!
ReplyDeleteI do not believe this poor woman has a case. Newspapers make mistakes everyday with reporting game scores, mis-printing names, and even typos in obituaries. I agree with some of the above comments that she should be checking her numbers with a reliable source. However, the odds of winning the lotto (especially one of that size) are so slim, I think maybe the newspaper or lottery commission should compensate her a small portion just for her troubles. I don't believe that they have to, just to be nice. That probably wouldn't happen, but what are the odds of her even getting the correct numbers on a misprint?
ReplyDeleteGena Harcrow
I don't believe she has a case, due to the fact that the media made a mistake, she put her trust in an unreliable source.So when she took this particular action, instead of checking with the lottery commission or an authorized retailer she has to face the trade-off that her numbers were incorrect.
ReplyDeleteI have heard about this happening to several people is it right? No, but it happens. In the case of newspapers printing wrong numbers, and then being sued can NOT happen. The reason for this is that when newspapers print the lottery numbers they have to state that they are "unofficial". The reason behind this is that until the lottery numbers are entered into the lottery database they are not officially valid. By notating that the numbers are unofficial the newspaper covers their liability, and protects the company from being sued. I do think that it is sad, and disheartening but nothing in life is certain unless it can be proven factual.
ReplyDeleteI do not believe that she has a case though I do believe that if she decides to sue the newspaper she could possibly get a settlement due to the fact that it would be easy for her to gather public support. Inaccuracies in newspapers happen all the time and while it is an unfortunate circumstance the paper should not be held liable for a persons reaction to news.
ReplyDeleteI do not think she has a case, nor the people who had lottery tickets and threw them away thinking they lost after checking with the incorrect newspaper numbers. However, I do think it could potentially cause issues for the newspaper if she was to sue them. Due to the media coverage I am sure that case would receive in that location, the newspaper should probably give her a small settlement to avoid any negative impact in sales.
ReplyDeleteI believe she has a case because the newspaper printed the wrong info which caused her some sort of distress. That is false advertisment. She won't win the case but she definitly has a case.
ReplyDeleteI believe that as far as a legitimate claim goes, Ms. Betancourt does not have sufficient evidence to win in an official suit. By bringing on enough negative press to discredit the newspaper company, however, the negative effect on the demand of the newspaper's business due to problems regarding reliability might be sufficient enough to stimulate the newspaper company to compensate her on her emotion distress. The only hope she would have for financial compensation is to cause enough negative publicity to cause a noticeable decrease in quantity demanded which would possibly lead to a decrease in demand that would influence monetary compensation.
ReplyDeleteIt would be heart breaking for sure,unfortunately, just because your dreams of winning the lottery are crushed does not give you the right to sue a media provider. Yes everyone makes mistakes but it is the newspapers, and tv media outlets JOB to report the correct news it happens all the time where media outlets report the wrong person of commenting a crime or persuading the public in the disregard/dislike of someone or something. I believe that the media outlet should be held accountable for what they provide if I or anyone else was to mess up that bad I know I would not have a job you should be able to do something because some peoples lives' and lively hoods rely on what the media provides.
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