Lottery news source: Electric New Paper - http://newpaper.asia1.com.sg/
$485 MILLION LOTTERY WINNER SAYS HE'S BROKE
January 15, 2007
HE won a record US$315 million ($485m) in 2002, but Jack Whittaker claims he cannot afford to pay a legal settlement because he has no money left.
The Powerball winner gave that explanation in a note last autumn to a lawyer for Ms Kitti French, who accused him of assaulting her at the Tri-State Racetrack and Gaming Centre, a casino near Charleston in West Virginia.
LARGEST WIN
Mr Whittaker's prize was the largest undivided lottery jackpot in US history at the time. He took his winnings in a lump sum of US$113m after taxes.
Since then, he has faced his granddaughter's death from a drugs overdose; he has been sued for bouncing cheques at Atlantic City; he has been ordered to undergo rehabilitation after being arrested on drink-driving charges; his vehicles and business have been burglarised; and he has been sued by the father of an 18-year-old boy, a friend of his granddaughter's, who was found dead at Mr Whittaker's house.
In the latest lawsuit, Mr Whittaker told Ms French's lawyer, John Barrett, that 'a team of crooks' cashed cheques in September at 12 City National Bank branches and 'got all my money', according to the motion Mr Barrett filed on Wednesday in state court.
'I intend to pay but can't without any money,' Mr Whittaker wrote, according to the motion.
An official with City National Bank said on Friday the bank was investigating 'small discrepancies' in Mr Whittaker's accounts. - AP. |
How the heck do you go through $113 MILLION in four years??????
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