Illinois family claims share of $331 million Big Game jackpot
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Posted 5:29PM on Friday, May 17, 2002
CHICAGO - Three members of a suburban Chicago family have claimed their share of the $331 million Big Game drawing of April 16. <br>
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Illinois lottery officials announced Friday that Bridgeview residents Pedro and Fran Sotomil and their teen-age daughter, Kayla, have decided to take a lump-sum payment of $59.2 million, which after taxes works out to be $41,450,311.<br>
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Pedro Sotomil has quit his job as a medical technician at Chicago's Michael Reece Hospital, but his wife plans to continue working as a nurse at University of Chicago Hospitals. <br>
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Sotomil said when he checked his ticket, he said, ``I said 'Oh my God, we have everything here.' We were shaking, excited, and I'm still recalling the emotions.'' <br>
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The ticket was one of three from the second-biggest lottery prize in U.S. history. It was sold at a Speedway gas station in the Chicago suburb of Burbank. <br>
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The holders of the other tickets -- sold in Georgia and New Jersey -- already have claimed their prizes.