Adoption Attorney: Legal Move ‘Both Awful and Brilliant’
Palm Beach billionaire John Goodman, who stands accused of driving drunk, plowing into UCF grad Scott Patrick Wilson, then leaving him to die, has reportedly pulled a legal move an adoption attorney told WPEC is “both awful and brilliant.” That attorney suggested it was done in order to shield his assets from a Wilson family lawsuit.
A Polo club founder, Goodman, 48, has adopted his 42-year-old girlfriend, Heather Laruso Hutchins, according to reports. They’ve been dating since 2009.
According to The Palm Beach Post, Wilson’s family attorney shares a similar analysis as the adoption attorney. The paper is reporting the plaintiff’s attorney says Goodman is “attempting to shield assets from a civil suit” filed by Wilson’s parents.
“By way of this adoption, John Goodman now effectively owns one third of the trust assets,” the Wilson attorney told the Palm Beach Post. “It cannot go unrecognized that he chose to adopt his 42-year-old adult girlfriend as opposed to a needy child.”
Goodman’s attorney disagrees with the analysis of the other two attorneys. Goodman’s lawyer denies the move is an attempt to shield assets in response to the lawsuit. Instead, according to a statement, it is all being done to protect and grow the assets of the Trust for his two minor children.
“Nothing in this arrangement with Ms. Hutchins is illegal,” read a statement from Goodman’s lawyer. “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, even should he personally be unable to continue his historical role in achieving these goals.”
“The adoption of Ms. Hutchins will have no effect on the civil proceedings as none of the assets of his children’s Trust belong to Mr. Goodman. All of the assets of the Trust have been disclosed to all parties in the current civil proceedings, so any allegation of hiding or secreting of assets is totally false.”
Read the full Goodman attorney statement here.
According to ABC news, West Palm Beach Judge Glenn Kelley described the moves as something that “border on the surreal and take the Court into a legal twilight zone.”
“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,” the judge wrote.
Again, Goodman’s attorney disagrees with the context in which ABC has characterized the judge’s quote. He provided KnightNews.com with the following excerpts from the judge’s Jan. 26 ruling:
· From Page 1 – “The Court has previously held that the assets owned by the children’s trust may not be considered a part of the net worth, or the financial resources, of Mr. Goodman for purposes of assessing punitive damages.”
· From Page 6 – “Heather Hutchins’ interest in the children’s trust maybe considered in connection with assessing Defendant John Goodman’s financial resources.”
KnightNews.com has been following the story since Wilson died in February 2010, driving home from Orlando to visit the Palm Beach area for his little sister’s birthday. It has sparked outrage among UCF students. 
Goodman’s civil trial will reportedly start March 27. Meanwhile, his criminal trial is set to start March 6, where he’ll answer for charges of DUI manslaughter, vehicular homicide and leaving the scene of a crash. He could face 30 years in prison if convicted, according to ABC news.
KnightNews.com will follow the trials and let you know what happens.
