Lottery Winner: Thieves "Got All My Money"

(CBS/AP)  A man beset by problems since winning a record lottery jackpot says he can't pay a settlement to a casino worker because thieves cleaned out his bank accounts.

Powerball winner Jack Whittaker gave that explanation in a note last fall to a lawyer for Kitti French, who accused him of assaulting her at the Tri-State Racetrack and Gaming Center, a slots-only casino near Charleston, according to a motion French's lawyer filed this week demanding payment of the confidential settlement.

Although he was already a wealthy contractor, Whittaker became an instant celebrity on Christmas Day 2002 after winning a $314.9 million Powerball jackpot. He took his winnings in a lump sum of $113 million after taxes, and at a news conference in which he came across as a jolly saint, he promised to donate one-tenth to his church and contribute to other causes.

He soon created a charity to help people find jobs, buy food or get an education; he split $7 million among three churches; and he gave money to improve a Little League park and buy playground equipment and coloring books for children.

But his life has been marred by lawsuits and personal tragedies. He faced his granddaughter's death by drug overdose in 2005; he was sued for bouncing checks at Atlantic City, N.J., casinos; he was ordered to undergo rehab after being arrested on drunken driving charges; his vehicles and business have been burglarized; and he was sued by the father of an 18-year-old boy, a friend of his granddaughter's, who was found dead in Whittaker's house.

In the latest lawsuit, Whittaker told French's lawyer, John Barrett, that "a team of crooks" cashed checks in September at 12 City National Bank branches and "got all my money," according to the motion Barrett filed Wednesday in state court.

"I intend to pay but can't without any money," Whittaker wrote, according to the motion.

An official with City National Bank said Friday the bank is investigating "small discrepancies" in Whittaker's accounts.

Calls to Whittaker and his lawyers Friday were not immediately returned.

[lotterywinner]

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[olebd]

Keep in mind, this guy was making good money as a coontractor before he won the lottery.

He must be too drunk, too lazy too stupid to get his business going again.

This guy is a real loser, he reminds me of the movie Brewster's Millions (1985) with Richard Pryor and John Candy. See if you can spend it all in 30 days and not have anything to show for it.....LOSER!!!

[richhong]

Oleander: You are wrong that a lottery winner may keep his/her identity confidential. Lottery rules REQUIRE winners to go public. If you go to www.njlottery.net (New Jersey Lottery official site) and under "Games and drawings" look for the Rules of the Mega Millions game, you will find the following text:

"Winner(s) of either the Jackpot Prize or a prize of $250,000 shall be required, at the discretion of the Lottery, to participate in a press conference. A press conference is an interview with television, radio and/or newspaper reporters, and photographers. The press conference will be scheduled by the Lottery."

In principle, the integrity of a public game depends on the names of the winners being public information; otherwise, the game could be rigged to only allow relatives of insiders to win, and no one would be the wiser because the winners' identities were confidential.

So the winner cannot initially keep his/her identity a secret. But a winner should try to disappear. Fortunately, the winners of anything but the largest jackpots are pretty much ignored these days. You could probably win a million and be unnoticed.

[oleander8]

newster1:
"Far as I know the LOTTERY is the one who publicly identifies winners, puts them on TV and of course since they are known where they live they become targets."

You don't know much...winners can keep their identity confidential. The media publicizes the winners after they find out who they are - usually by friends or family of the winners when not the winner themself.

Also, it makes sense to take the money in a single lump if you are over 50.

His behavior with this windfall is not unusual with people that come into a lot of money suddenly. Stop insulting him.

[aznyron-2009]

give the man a break why are you all so insulting he lives his life the way he wants did you all ever hear the saying live and let live the only thing I disagree with him on is taking his money in a lump sum but it is his choice how he want to be paid AMEN

[nothappyatall]

THIS guy again???? this guy has to be the biggest most incompetant loser there is, seemed like everytime I picked up the news HE was in there having been arrested for drunk driving, assault etc. He went to a bar with something like $50,000 CASH in a briefcase he left in his truck parked outside and it was stolen.
He revealed personal details?

Far as I know the LOTTERY is the one who publicly identifies winners, puts them on TV and of course since they are known where they live they become targets.

Best thing to do if one wins cash like this, take the money and DISAPPEAR, new name, new state, low profile and tell no one you won the lottery. After a while winners are forgotten and people won't even recognize you in a different state.

[wny14127]

His problems started when he revealed too much personal information about himself when he accepted the winnings. He should have kept quiet and not become a target for the local idiots.

[garsong-2009]

What a frickin looser. You know, everyday you hear about people and their bad luck, but I really beleive that most people bring it on themselves, like this guy.

[chalres-2009]

you can take the redneck out of the trailer, but you can't take the trailer out of the redneck..