Man sues co-workers for share in lottery win

A US man is suing his co-workers for not giving him any money after their lottery win.

Edward Hairston claims he missed out on the $99m (€70m) jackpot his 22 colleagues scooped because he had been ill for the past three months and was unable to pay the $5 he usually puts in as part of a syndicate, which he had participated in for eight years.

The man – who was unable at attend work because of a back injury - is suing his colleagues for around $2m.

His attorney Howard Mishkind explained there was an unwritten agreement the co-workers would cover for each other when they were ill or on holiday.

He told ABCNews.com: "All because of $15, it's now costing him $2m."

But lawyer Kerin Lyn Kaminski, who is representing the 22 winners, said: "The plaintiff didn't play for three months and despite being invited to do so through email he chose not to put money in, therefore he can't be a winner."