Kenosha family sues Brewers over missed $13,000 raffle prize

A Kenosha family is suing the Brewers Community Foundation after missing out on a $13,000 prize from the team’s 50/50 raffle due to claim rules that required winners to act within a tight deadline. The Flynn family purchased their raffle tickets in the parking lot of American Family Field, where half of the proceeds go to the Brewers Charity Foundation and the other half to the winning ticket holder. They said they couldn’t see the scoreboard from their seats and missed the winning number when it was drawn. By the time they checked the number on their phone and ran to claim the prize, the team said they were too late. Video from July 7, 2023, shows Annette and Matt Flynn racing from their seats to collect their winnings. Annette Flynn said they had just six outs to reach a specific location in the ballpark to claim the prize. “To this day, I don’t know why those were the rules,” Annette said. Video obtained from the Brewers shows Annette running through the concourses. She said an usher directed her to a location on the main level instead of the loge level, where she was supposed to go. “I caught my breath, and then I proceeded to walk up 57 steps to the second floor. Out of breath completely, I get to the table upstairs, two gentlemen are there, I show them my phone and my ticket, and I said, ‘I’m the winner, Bob downstairs sent me up here.’ He looks back at the TV screen, and he says, ‘Oh no, you weren’t here on time. We called another number.’ I’m like, ‘What do you mean you called another number?'” Annette said. The Flynn family filed suit in small claims court, challenging the Brewers’ timeline. “They said I was late. They said I was 66 seconds late,” Annette said. The Brewers Community Foundation timeline shows they waited just 15 seconds after the final out before posting another winning number. However, the State Appeals Court ruled this week that the timing of Annette’s arrival was irrelevant because the raffle rules state the foundation has sole discretion in awarding the prize. “Gives them the luxury of denying anyone for any reason because they have ‘sole discretion.’ And our attempt now is to have them take it off of there,” Matt Flynn said. Matt said they may take the case to the state supreme court. Despite the dispute, he remains a loyal Brewers fan, though he expressed frustration with the foundation and the raffle process. “And I don’t hold it against the team. The front office, yeah,” Matt said. The Brewers Community Foundation has since changed the raffle rules, giving winners 30 days to claim their prize instead of the previous six-out deadline. The Flynn family said the Brewers offered to settle the case, but the offer included a gag order they objected to. The Brewers did not respond to a request for comment.Top headlinesFatal semi truck crash shuts down I-43 North in Waukesha CountyOwner releases statement after 5-alarm fire damages Milwaukee buildingFirefighters battle 5-alarm fire Wednesday evening in MilwaukeeWATCH Flames shoot through abandoned building

KENOSHA, Wis. —

A Kenosha family is suing the Brewers Community Foundation after missing out on a $13,000 prize from the team’s 50/50 raffle due to claim rules that required winners to act within a tight deadline.

The Flynn family purchased their raffle tickets in the parking lot of American Family Field, where half of the proceeds go to the Brewers Charity Foundation and the other half to the winning ticket holder. They said they couldn’t see the scoreboard from their seats and missed the winning number when it was drawn. By the time they checked the number on their phone and ran to claim the prize, the team said they were too late.

Video from July 7, 2023, shows Annette and Matt Flynn racing from their seats to collect their winnings. Annette Flynn said they had just six outs to reach a specific location in the ballpark to claim the prize.

“To this day, I don’t know why those were the rules,” Annette said.

Video obtained from the Brewers shows Annette running through the concourses. She said an usher directed her to a location on the main level instead of the loge level, where she was supposed to go.

“I caught my breath, and then I proceeded to walk up 57 steps to the second floor. Out of breath completely, I get to the table upstairs, two gentlemen are there, I show them my phone and my ticket, and I said, ‘I’m the winner, Bob downstairs sent me up here.’ He looks back at the TV screen, and he says, ‘Oh no, you weren’t here on time. We called another number.’ I’m like, ‘What do you mean you called another number?'” Annette said.

The Flynn family filed suit in small claims court, challenging the Brewers’ timeline.

“They said I was late. They said I was 66 seconds late,” Annette said.

The Brewers Community Foundation timeline shows they waited just 15 seconds after the final out before posting another winning number.

However, the State Appeals Court ruled this week that the timing of Annette’s arrival was irrelevant because the raffle rules state the foundation has sole discretion in awarding the prize.

“Gives them the luxury of denying anyone for any reason because they have ‘sole discretion.’ And our attempt now is to have them take it off of there,” Matt Flynn said.

Matt said they may take the case to the state supreme court.

Despite the dispute, he remains a loyal Brewers fan, though he expressed frustration with the foundation and the raffle process.

“And I don’t hold it against the team. The front office, yeah,” Matt said.

The Brewers Community Foundation has since changed the raffle rules, giving winners 30 days to claim their prize instead of the previous six-out deadline. The Flynn family said the Brewers offered to settle the case, but the offer included a gag order they objected to.

The Brewers did not respond to a request for comment.

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