Powerball’s not the only unclaimed huge jackpot

Don't expect the Michigan winner of Wednesday's $337 million Powerball jackpot to show up right away.

Two Mega Millions jackpots are waiting to be awarded - and one, worth $118 million, seems to have gotten tangled up in court before anybody gets a penny.

A group of 12 Illinois Pita Pan bread factory workers believed they won, but at least five colleagues have filed suit, arguing they also deserve a cut.

Two players who believe they do contend they were regular contributors, the regular collection day was changed, and, further, they contributed to a purchase that produce $9 in winnings that was rolled over into the lucky purchase, according to one of their attorneys, Michael LaMonica.

"These were all friends of theirs, so they were hurt that they were being excluded. They were shocked," LaMonica said about how his clients were treated.

The parties won't be back before the judge until late next month, he said.

The other unclaimed Mega Millions jackpot, worth $52 million, was hit July 27 in Freemont, Calif.

California also has an unclaimed $23 million jackpot from its May 30 SuperLotto Plus game.

Some people take weeks to check their tickets. Others wisely seek financial and legal advice, as advised by lottery officials. (First of all, though, sign that ticket, officials say.) Occasionally, though, no one comes forward.

Last December, a $77 million Powerball jackpot won June 29 in Georgia evaporated when that state's 180-day time limit expired. (Most states, like Pennsylvania and New Jersey allow a year.)

Then again, some winners step right up.

On April 25, a jackpot worth $172.7 million was hit by a ticket purchased at the Gallery in Philadelphia. The next day, SEPTA confirmed that a group of 48 current and former workers had won.

Nearly five months elapsed before Palmira Nicolo of Wyndmoor, Montgomery County, came forward to claim a $46.6 million jackpot won Feb. 28, 2009. Nicolo, who taught Italian at Cherry Hill West, bought her ticket at Plymouth Meeting Mall.

So don't place any bets on when a lottery winner will cash in.