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Powerball winner Edwin Castro's rival, Jose Rivera, let out a furious tirade outside the courthouse on Thursday following the dismissal of his lawsuit against Castro.
Lawsuit dismissed
Rivera, who had claimed that Castro had won the $2.04 billion Powerball jackpot with a stolen ticket, had been embroiled in a bizarre and contentious legal battle for over a year.
Rivera's case took numerous twists and turns, from a series of legal missteps to self-representation after multiple lawyers dropped him. After Thursday's court session, Rivera was visibly angry.
He shouted, “What do you mean it's over? I'm not going to stay quiet. I'm p*****. He's going to pay for it. He's a f****** liar. I'm not done with this. I'm very f****** angry,” The U.S. Sun reported.
Things got even crazier when Rivera showed reporters pictures on his phone, which featured a TikTok user claiming to be the “real Edwin Castro.”
A new twist — another lawsuit filed!
In a surprising development, a new lawsuit was filed by another individual claiming to be the legitimate winner of the Powerball ticket.
When asked about the new case, Rivera claimed to know nothing about it, which adds another layer to this already twisted case.
Rivera's claims
In Rivera's lawsuit, he claimed that he regularly played the same numbers and had purchased the winning ticket that Castro later claimed. He alleged that his former landlord, Urachi "Reggie" Romero, actually stole the ticket from him, but that it eventually ended up in the hands of Castro.
However, Rivera failed to present convincing evidence to support his claim, including proof that he regularly played the same numbers, and his accusations kept getting wilder and wilder.
Also, the California Lottery consistently upheld Castro as the legitimate winner during this legal battle. They said they use a thorough vetting process for their winners, and there was a lack of any evidence supporting Rivera's allegations.
Missed deadline
On Thursday, Judge William Crowfoot dismissed Rivera's case. This was done because Rivera missed a critical deadline to respond to a demurrer filed by Castro's lawyers.
A demurrer challenges the sufficiency of legal claims made by one party. Rivera had submitted his papers late, and they were deemed insufficient, merely repeating his previous allegations without new evidence. Crowfoot said that Rivera's allegations made little sense.
The judge also addressed Rivera's confusion and frustration during the proceedings, advising him to hire a lawyer, though Rivera admitted he could not afford one.
Rivera faces their own legal issues
In addition to his attempt at suing Castro, Rivera finds himself in some hot water also.
He has been charged with filing a false police complaint in Pasadena. He still has to appear in court for that charge, but if convicted, he could face up to six months in jail or a fine of up to $1,000.
Castro is just enjoying his winnings
In spite of these legal troubles, Castro has remained pretty silent throughout the process. He is just enjoying his big win, having splurged on luxury cars and houses in Los Angeles. He seems to be focused on enjoying his new life while trying to stay out of the spotlight.
The winning Powerball ticket was purchased at Joe's Service Center and the owner, Joe Chahayed, has previously confirmed Castro's purchase of the ticket.
Enjoy playing the California Lottery, and please remember to play responsibly.
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