WHAT: Closing arguments in the Arwa Farraj $8 Million California Quick Pick Super Lotto fraud trial will be given tomorrow at 9:30 AM in Courtroom “O,” Pomona Superior Court, 400 Civic Center Plaza, Pomona, CA. before the Hon. Peter J. Meek Plaintiff Arwa Farraj filed suit in February 2000 against Circle K Stores (NYSE: COP) and its employee, Gurinder Ruby, for fraud and conversion, alleging that she had been deceived by Ruby into giving her winning California Quick Pick Super Lotto ticket to him.
The trial began on September 17, 2003. Farraj is represented by Browne Greene and Mark Quigley with Greene, Broillet, Panish & Wheeler, LLP. Arwa Farraj vs. Gurinder Ruby and
Circle K Stores, Inc., Case No. KC032486.
WHO: On December 25, 1999 at approximately 3:56 PM, Farraj purchased her first California Quick Pick Super Lotto ticket at the Circle K Store at 2210 “D” Street in La Verne, CA., and
where she had been employed for two weeks. Her supervisor and Circle K senior assistant store manager, Gurinder Ruby, was not in the store at the time she bought her winning lottery
the ticket, as verified by Circle K’s own electronic time-sheet records. The next day, Farraj asked Defendant Ruby to verify the amount of her winning ticket. He told her that
she had won $88.00 and paid her the money.
In January 2000, Farraj learned that Ruby had won the December 25th $8 million Super Lotto Jackpot and that the ticket had been sold from the La Verne Circle K store. She contacted the
California State Lottery office which conducted an investigation and concluded that the ticket was stolen. At about the same time, it paid Ruby the $8 million, amounting to approximately $2.56 million dollars after he elected to receive a lump sum award and after taxes. Circle K received $40,000 as a commission for being the winning store.
As others were making claims on the ticket, the La Verne Police Department was contacted, and Detective Monica Schuess investigated the matter. She retrieved the La Verne Circle K
store’s surveillance tapes and discovered that 5 minutes of the tapes had been erased at the critical time when the winning ticket had been purchased: December 25, 1999 at
approximately 3:56 PM. This information was conveyed to La Verne Circle K store manager, Ed Rodriguez, who, in turn, told Circle K district manager, Bersel Lindsay. Only Defendant Ruby
and Mr. Rodriguez had access to the videotape equipment and videotapes. Circle K management eventually brought in its own loss management investigator, Kirk Luke, to look into the matter. Yet, three years later, Mr. Luke has only two pages of notes about the incident and Circle K’s investigation is still open, according to Luke’s deposition. Farraj, the allege victim, was placed on administrative leave and lost her job.
Browne Greene said: “Arwa Farraj was duped by Circle K and its senior assistant store manager into thinking that she had won four out of six numbers on her lotto ticket for a total of $88.00 instead of its real value of $8 million. Circle K’s investigation into this matter has been inadequate despite overwhelming evidence that would affix blame and responsibility on its employees. We will make sure that she gets her day in court and see to it that Circle K takes full
responsibility for the actions of its employees in defrauding our client.”
WHEN: MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 29, 2003 AT 9:30 AM
