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| Powerball winner sues for anonymity over $560m jackpot | Powerball winner sues for anonymity over $560m jackpot |
| (about 7 hours later) | |
| The winner of a $560 million (£400m) Powerball jackpot last month is suing state lottery officials in a bid to protect her anonymity. | The winner of a $560 million (£400m) Powerball jackpot last month is suing state lottery officials in a bid to protect her anonymity. |
| The New Hampshire woman filed a civil complaint as Jane Doe, after making the "huge mistake" of signing the winning ticket without legal consultation. | The New Hampshire woman filed a civil complaint as Jane Doe, after making the "huge mistake" of signing the winning ticket without legal consultation. |
| State law says a winner's name, town and winning amount are public record. | State law says a winner's name, town and winning amount are public record. |
| But the woman later learned from a lawyer that she could avoid the law by claiming the lottery money via a trust. | But the woman later learned from a lawyer that she could avoid the law by claiming the lottery money via a trust. |
| The winner has not turned in her ticket yet, but showed lottery officials a photocopy of the front to support her claim for the country's eighth-largest lottery jackpot. | The winner has not turned in her ticket yet, but showed lottery officials a photocopy of the front to support her claim for the country's eighth-largest lottery jackpot. |
| They told her that they would be compelled to disclose her identity in the event someone files a Right-to-Know request for the 6 January drawing. | They told her that they would be compelled to disclose her identity in the event someone files a Right-to-Know request for the 6 January drawing. |
| Her lawyer said that the long-time New Hampshire resident wants to give back to her community, according to court documents obtained by NewHampshire.com. | Her lawyer said that the long-time New Hampshire resident wants to give back to her community, according to court documents obtained by NewHampshire.com. |
| However, she also wants "the freedom to walk into a grocery store or attend public events without being known or targeted as the winner of a half-billion dollars". | However, she also wants "the freedom to walk into a grocery store or attend public events without being known or targeted as the winner of a half-billion dollars". |
| They argued her privacy interest outweighed the insignificant public interest in disclosing her name. | They argued her privacy interest outweighed the insignificant public interest in disclosing her name. |
| Charlie McIntyre, the state lottery's executive director, said in a statement that his agency understood winning such a large sum was a "life-changing occurrence". | Charlie McIntyre, the state lottery's executive director, said in a statement that his agency understood winning such a large sum was a "life-changing occurrence". |
| But he added: "While we respect this player's desire to remain anonymous, state statutes and lottery rules clearly dictate protocols." | |
| Fortune without the fame? | Fortune without the fame? |
| Currently only six states allow lottery winners to maintain their anonymity: Delaware, Kansas, Maryland, North Dakota, Ohio and South Carolina. | |
| New Hampshire is among the few other states that allow people to form a trust to claim prize money anonymously. | New Hampshire is among the few other states that allow people to form a trust to claim prize money anonymously. |
| In 2016, the state's winner of a $487m US Powerball jackpot chose to remain anonymous, claiming their prize through a trust facilitated by a local law firm. | |
| Because the latest winner has already signed her name on the winning ticket, any alteration to the signature would nullify the ticket for $559.7 million. | Because the latest winner has already signed her name on the winning ticket, any alteration to the signature would nullify the ticket for $559.7 million. |
| Mr McIntyre said his office had consulted the state attorney general's office and that the Powerball winner's ticket would have to be processed "like any other". | Mr McIntyre said his office had consulted the state attorney general's office and that the Powerball winner's ticket would have to be processed "like any other". |