POOR JACK'S BACK - $315 Mil Lottery Winner Facing Civil Suit

(03/10/2004)
By Bob Weaver

The largest Powerball winner ever, Jack Whittaker, is in dutch again, this time being sued for what the litigant claims is bad sexual behavior.

A female worker at Tri-State Race Track and Gaming Center alleges Whittaker forced her head toward his crotch while he gambled at the track in March 2003.

The company says Whittaker is still allowed at the track, but is not allowed to be alone in a room with any of their female employees.

Although Jack has been banned from other Kanawha Valley establishments, the gambling emporium appears to like Jack's money.

Charity D. Fortner, who is a floor attendant at the track, has brought the civil suit.

Fortner claims that Whittaker behaved badly with other female employees.

Whittaker's non-profit foundation has helped a West Virginia church and other individuals with problems.

The church, which has an anti-gambling stance, didn't blink and eye when Jack gave them money.

Whittaker has been charged with driving drunk, and with trying to hit the manager of a St. Albans bar, having allegedly threatened to have the bar manager and his family killed.

Employees of the Pink Pony strip club in Cross Lanes allegedly drugged Whittaker and tried to steal $545,000 from his Lincoln. In January, someone stole $100,000 from the auto while it was parked outside his Putnam County home.

A Jack watcher commented "Jack's money brings out the worst in him, and maybe the worst in us all."