Man Adopts Girlfriend: John Goodman's 'Daughter' Could Protect Assets In Wrongful Death Lawsuit

A wealthy Florida man has adopted his 42-year-old girlfriend as a daughter in a move critics say will protect the man's assets during an upcoming lawsuit surrounding a deadly car accident.

Polo Club Palm Beach founder John Goodman, 48, adopted his longtime partner Heather Laruso Hutchins in October, The Palm Beach Post reports.

The strategy could shore up Goodman's wealth as he confronts a wrongful death lawsuit filed by the parents of Scott Patrick Wilson, The Associated Press says. Wilson was killed in 2010 when Goodman allegedly ran a stop sign. The trial begins March 27.

Goodman had previously set up a trust for his two minor children. If Wilson's parents win their civil suit, they cannot receive any compensation from the trust, The Post reports.

Hutchins, as Goodman's third legal child, is now entitled to a third of the money in the trust. However, another court could later rule that Hutchins isn't entitled to a share of the trust, Fox News reports.

A lawyer for the Wilson family claims it's a ploy for Goodman to keep money for himself. But Dan Bachi, Goodman's lawyer, told The Palm Beach Post, the adoption is to guarantee his children's future and denied that it was spurred by the lawsuit.

Florida attorney Charlotte Danciu said in an interview with TV station WPEC that Goodman is abusing the state's adoption law, which is designed to create parent-child relationships.

Circuit Court Judge Glenn Kelley, who granted attorneys for Liz and William Wilson the right to information to about the adoption, described Goodman's gambit as "border[ing] on the surreal," and said it put the court in a "legal twilight zone."

Sobriety tests revealed that Goodman was driving with a blood-alcohol level two times above the legal limit on the night Wilson died. Besides the civil case, he faces a March trial for vehicular homicide, DUI manslaughter, and leaving the scene of a crime. Those charges carry a sentence of up to 30 years in prison. He has pleaded not guilty.

CORRECTION: An earlier version of this story mischaracterized Circuit Court Judge Glenn Kelley's role. He gave the lawyers for Scott Patrick Wilson's parents the right to see information about John Goodman's adoption. He did not approve the adoption. We regret the error.

Comments

[Nikki68404]

09:00 AM on 09/19/2012

Who's your daddy!?!?!

[Victoryin2008]

05:23 PM on 04/20/2012

This guy is the lowest form of life. He ran a young man off the road and then left, because he was drunk, and the man drowned in the canal. That's not bad enough...he claims his car was at fault and then adopts his girlfriend to protect his money???? Is there anything remotely HUMAN about this animal? Dispicable!!

[rickiilla]

07:58 PM on 04/11/2012

Could the family sued John Goodman's estate...? If the courts allow the adopting wouldn't it be against the law for him to be in a relationship with her?

[bej3101]

08:02 PM on 03/14/2012

Goodman is guilty of DUI. Goodman claims his $200,000 Bentley went our of control after partying and drinking until the wee hours of the am??? Goodman, then adopts his lover as his daughter ?Wow, what a story! I would like to sell this man a bridge.

[aaraujo]

09:34 AM on 02/10/2012

this is why people hate the rich

[mt6130]

08:46 PM on 02/09/2012

It appears he's doing this for financial reasons, on the surface, what I have read here, he appears to be devoid of any moral fiber or character, I don't think his assets should be protected from the family of the boy whose life was taken in an accident in which he was drunk, if he's found at fault, in that case, I hope he doesn't get away with it, money talks in this society, and it can speak evil, in some cases.

[nhfireman]

08:30 PM on 02/09/2012

If he was drunk like they say and he killed this kid then he should be held liable and by the sounds of it he should get the maximum penalty allowed. I bet if it happened to his family he would be screaming for justice. I am sick of drunks that hurt other people and get away with a slap on the wrist instead of getting real punishments.

[dekendall]

08:19 PM on 02/09/2012

You would think that someone that rich would be smart enough to spend a few bucks on a cab or a limo rather than drive drunk.

[Recie Blackwell Smith]

08:12 PM on 02/09/2012

Let me get this straight, man adopts girlfriend, she becomes his legal child. So if man sleeps with adopted girlfriend, isn't he committing incest?

[I Dibble Dabble]

02:16 PM on 07/04/2012

we should stop talking about the 1 percenters and do something. The D of I begins with we the people, not we the rich. we need to take a stand or this country is going to S the D harder than it already does in the near future.

[JoanneRM]

08:12 PM on 02/09/2012

This is what the 1% does. This is what they mean about taking responsibility. They want the 99% to take responsibility, but not them. In most states, you have to be more than 12 years older than the person you adopt unless there are special circumstances and the court waves the rule. That would include an older sibling adopting a younger child. Apparently not in Florida. In Florida, you can't lose your house in bankruptcy. Rich people buy expensive houses before they declare bankruptcy.

This guy is one of the 1%; he is a good example of what they do.

[patticakes831]

08:09 PM on 02/09/2012

since when is it possible , or even legal to adopt an adult?

[nhfireman]

08:25 PM on 02/09/2012

It's been possible for year about 40 years ago my grandfather adopted my aunt when she was 51 everyone joked about it, but he did it so she could get her share of his estate when he died

[sojournernow]

08:07 PM on 02/09/2012

So Goodman escapes one legal hurdle by committing incest with his daughter. Hmmm. How murky can this get?

[quadia]

08:13 PM on 02/09/2012

Oh, yeah, my thoughts, exactly. Of course, since the "daughter" is an adult, maybe there's a clause in the incest law that makes it... *gulp, gag* consenual.

[dave778967]

08:01 PM on 02/09/2012

This "adoption" is just an attempt at fraud. Years ago the courts would have looked at this attempt and immediately swatted it down for the ridiculous attempt it is. However, with the idiot liberal judges who try to justify every bad act I'm sure they will look at this attempted crime as a ligitimate adoption.

[Shiggity]

08:01 PM on 02/09/2012

I think he forfeits his life at his point. He got drunk, ran a stop sign, and killed someone.

[quadia]

08:14 PM on 02/09/2012

Yep, another self-center thing (wouldn't want to insult the pigs) who doesn't and won't take responsibility for his own reckless action.

[bartonlyle]

07:59 PM on 02/09/2012

And if he touches her in that special way he'll be guilty of incest!