Florida polo club founder John Goodman, 48, has adopted his 42-year-old longtime girlfriend, Heather Laruso Hutchins, ABC News is reporting. Attorneys believe the adoption, which was formalized in October 2011, is a legal maneuver to protect his financial assets from a civil lawsuit he’s involved in. He’s facing trial for a drunk driving accident that killed 23-year-old Scott Patrick Wilson.
In a court order, West Palm Beach Judge Glenn Kelley wrote the case borders “on the surreal and takes the Court into a legal twilight zone.” The judge also wrote “the Defendant has effectively diverted a significant portion of the assets of the children’s trust to a person with whom he is intimately involved at a time when his personal assets are largely at risk in this case.”
Since neither of Goodman’s two biological children have yet reached the age of 35, the age at which they can control their trust funds, he adopted Hutchins, who he started dating in 2009. The adoption entitles her to a one-third beneficiary interest in the trust, which totals several hundred million dollars.
The Wilsons’ attorneys believe the adoption is a way for Goodman to maintain control of his money. Kelley wrote they also feel it’s grounds to now include the assets of the children’s trust in the punitive damages calculation. The change comes after the court previously ruled their money couldn’t be considered part of his net worth.
Goodman’s attorney, Daniel Bachi, released a statement saying the adoption will have no effect on the civil proceedings, and he won’t benefit from it. “Nothing in this arrangement with Ms. Hutchins is illegal,” the statement added. “Everything that has been done by Mr. Goodman was done with the intention to preserve and grow the assets of the Trust for his two minor children.
Goodman, the founder of the International Polo Club Palm Beach in Wellington, is being sued by Lili and William Wilson for the wrongful death of their son. He had returned home from college for his sister’s birthday, and died on February 12, 2010 in a car crash.
Police said Goodman, who was driving a Bentley, ran a stop sign. As a result, he slammed into Wilson’s car, and he didn’t call police or an ambulance. He left the crash on foot, and it was determined that his blood alcohol level was more than twice the legal limit.
Goodman’s civil trial is set for March 27, 2012. His criminal trial for charges of DUI manslaughter, vehicular homicide and leaving the scene of a crash is set for March 6. If convicted, he faces up to 30 years in jail.
Written by: Karen Benardello