Lotto ticket purchased seven seconds too late for jackpot

DOLLARD-DES-ORMEAUX, Quebec, Jan. 30 (UPI) -- The Canadian Supreme Court rejected an appeal from a man whose lottery ticket was purchased seven seconds too late to claim a share of a $21.3 million jackpot.

The Supreme Court rejected the appeal Thursday from Joel Ifergan of Dollard-des-Ormeaux, Quebec, who alleged his lottery ticket bearing the winning numbers for the May 23, 2008, drawing with a $21.3 million jackpot was only purchased seven seconds after the deadline to due delays with Loto-Quebec's central computer system.

The prize money was claimed by another ticket holder whose numbers matched the winners.

Ifergan's lawsuit, which named the province's lottery regulator and sought half of the jackpot, was rejected by Quebec courts.

"I'm really disappointed in the decision, and it's not because it's about the money," Ifergan told CTV News.

"Loto-Quebec during the trial never argued the fact that my request for the two tickets was in their system at 8:59.47," he said.

Ifergan, who said he has spent nearly $79,000 pursuing the court case, said he plans to continue playing the lottery.