W.Va. Jackpot Winner Sued by Family of Teen Who Overdosed at His Home

AP ^ | March 11, 2005 | Jennifer Bundy

[billorites]

CHARLESTON, W.Va. (AP) - The businessman who won the nation's richest undivided lottery jackpot was sued Friday by the family of a teenager who died of a drug overdose at his home in September. The wrongful death lawsuit said Jesse Joe Tribble was led astray by Jack Whittaker's late granddaughter, and it said he should have exercised more control over her since she was in his custody.

Tribble, 18, was found dead Sept. 17 at Whittaker's home in Scott Depot.

The night before, according to the lawsuit, Tribble had used drugs at the home with 17-year-old Brandi Bragg. When Tribble passed out on a bed, the lawsuit said, Bragg left him there instead of seeking medical help, though "she knew he was severely intoxicated and ill from the use of illegal drugs."

Bragg died less than three months later. The cause of death has not been determined.

The lawsuit accused Whittaker of negligence, saying he knew or should have known that Bragg was using money he gave to her to buy illegal drugs and supply her friends with drugs.

The lawsuit, which seeks unspecified damages, says he continued to spoil her with money, automobiles and unlimited access to his home even after she developed "a serious drug habit."

Phone calls to Whittaker and his attorney, Norm Daniels, were not immediately returned Friday.

Trouble has dogged the already-wealthy Whittaker since he won the $314.9 million Powerball jackpot on Christmas Day 2002, taking his winnings in a $113 million lump sum. Among the problems, Whittaker was arrested twice for drunken driving, and his home and his vehicles have been hit with a rash of break-ins.

[RobRoy]

Where there is a deep pocket, there is a lawsuit.

There are lots of types of lotteries in this country.

[billorites]

[RossA]

Moral: if you get money, get the h*ll out of W. Va.

[annyokie]

I'm thinking that winning that jackpot was the kiss of death for this guy.

[Finger Monkey]

One of my favorite Star Treks, The Trouble with Tribbles. Thanks for posting the picture.

[Finger Monkey]

Dude, the guy was 18. An adult. Sheesh.

[singfreedom]

I guess "parental responsibilities" are of absolutely no consequence here, just as in the Michael Jackson case. I'm speaking here of the young man's parents------in both cases!

Perhaps, now, grandparents are responsible, but not parents? (tongue firmly in cheek)

[JmyBryan]

In general, the "litigious nature of our society" is shameful. I think the legal system should be privatized.

[Marauder]

Judges are impressed with deep pockets, too, because after all, they start out as lawyers.

[thulldud]

The wrongful death lawsuit said Jesse Joe Tribble was led astray by Jack Whittaker's late granddaughter

Huh?

[LibWhacker]

. . . taking his winnings in a $113 million lump sum.

Given the way this guy has been whizzing away his money, I wonder what he's down to now? $90M? $80M? $60M? This lawsuit could grab another huge chunk of it.

[crazyhorse691]

Life imitating art? Or art imitating life? Lost, on ABC, has a character(Hurley) that has nothing but bad luck after winning the lottery.

[judgeandjury]

Moral: if you get money, get the h*ll out of W. Va.

And change your name too.

[secret garden]

She died three months after he died.

[sure_fine]

why don't they sue the drug makers

[sure_fine]

and the county the house was in, and the lumber yard that sol material to build it

[mellyK]

I bet Whitaker went out and bought a quintuple wide trailer as soon as he hit that jackpot.


What a load of trash.

[thulldud]

Somehow I missed that in the article. Saw the sentence "cause of death not determined" and connected it with the boy, not the girl. Wrong.

This man already had a good business and was in easy circumstances before his big "win". I remember the publicity about it at the time, since they always puff the big winners to encourage more suckers avaricious twits to ante up for the tickets. Now we see a sample of "what comes after", which nobody talks about. Leastways, not the lotto hawkers.

[YOUGOTIT]

If he overdosed that it was his decision. He is responsible no one else is responsible. The homeowner should sue the family of the druggie to recover their cost. And they should sue the lawyer who is in charge.