Co-Workers Drop Claim to Powerball Prize Cut

PORTLAND, Maine â€”  Four co-workers of one of the winners of the $294.8-million Powerball jackpot dropped their claim to a piece of the prize Thursday, just one day after suing.

The co-workers made their decision as the holders of the fourth and final winning ticket stepped forward in Delaware to claim their share of the jackpot.

The workers in Maine dropped their case after learning that the facts did not support their assertion that the winning ticket held by Pat Wales and her husband, Erwin, had been bought as part of an office pool, said John McVeigh, a lawyer for the plaintiffs.

“Once we got the answers, we decided to dismiss,� McVeigh said.

In the lawsuit, four people who worked with Pat Wales at Lincoln Financial Group in Portland said 19 members of the pool had kicked in $10 apiece to share 190 Powerball tickets.

The Waleses’ lawyer, Terrence Garmey, said Pat Wales bought 190 numbers for her office pool, then a few minutes later bought 20 for herself and her husband in New Hampshire. The winning ticket, Garmey said, was among those 20.

Meanwhile, in Dover, Del., the fourth winning ticket was claimed by a first-grade teacher and her brother from the Pittsburgh area.

“I guess we’ll help the economy somewhat,� said Kathleen Kearney, who, with her brother Michael, won $73.7 million.

Kathleen Kearney said she will keep teaching despite her winnings, although she will buy a new car to replace her 8-year-old Toyota. She also said she will spend some money on her students. “Certainly better snacks,� she said.

Michael Kearney, a lawyer with two teenage daughters, hasn’t decided what to do with his share of the lump-sum pretax payment of $41.4 million, which he and his sister will split equally.

Kathleen Kearney said she waited for so long to come forward because “I never win anything.� They didn’t check their ticket against the winning numbers until Wednesday.

The jackpot was the third-richest lottery prize in U.S. history. The holders of the other winning tickets in Saturday’s drawing were an ex-convict from Kentucky and a medical records clerk from Minnesota.