A legal quarrel has erupted between a couple in charge of a winning lottery syndicate and a man trying to claim a share of the $63million (£36million) Powerball jackpot.
Western Australian newsagency owners Tania and Kevin Parkes, who ran the syndicate, along with the 248 others who entered their #2 Syndicate found out on February 24 that they had won £150,000 each - half the total £69million Powerball jackpot.
In order to claim their money, everyone in the syndicate was asked to provide proof of their ticket.
However when Mark Ing arrived, insisting he had a ticket and trying to claim £150,000, the couple had no record of him taking part in the winning draw.
The Parkes, who ran multiple syndicates for different Lotto prize pools, said he had purchased a ticket in another syndicate and therefore was not entitled to the cash.
The couple is now fighting Mr Ing in court in a bid to prevent him claiming part of the winnings, The Sun Online reports.
The Parkes' "pay off your mortgage" syndicate offered people the chance to win big for the relatively low price of £57 per person.
After #2 Syndicate discovered they had won £150,000 each, Mr Ing reportedly turned up at a Lotterywest office, claiming he was part of the winning group.
However, the Parkes have alleged this was not true.
Documents filed in the Supreme Court in April showed Mr Ing was able to make a claim for the cash, as long as he provided proof he had taken part in the wining syndicate.
But upon looking at their records, the Parkes said Mr Ing had brought into another syndicate - the unsuccessful #1 - meaning he was not entitled to the winnings.
They asked Mr Ing to tell Lotterywest he was not part of the winning team, but he is alleged to have maintained his claim.
When Lotterywest paid the cash out to the winning syndicate on March 11, Mr Ing was not paid.
But on April 14, even though there was a formal dispute over the winnings, the Parkes were told by officials at Lotterywest that they would pay Mr Ing.
In another twist, the payout was blocked by the Supreme Court in Australia.
The Parkes have now filed legal proceedings against both Mr Ing and Lotterywest, based on their claims that Mr Ing made "untrue" representations to the company.
According to Lotterywest, the disputed prize had not been paid in accordance with orders from the Supreme Court.
The civil case will be heard at court on August 2.
