People will do anything to protect their money!
John Goodman, 48, is the wealthy founder of the Palm Beach Polo Club; after running a stop sign in 2010 he killed 23-year-old Scott Patrick Wilson.
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The parents of Wilson filed a wrongful death suit against Goodman, but now his strategy of protecting his wealth has prosecutors concerned.
In an effort to protect his money, Goodman adopted his 42-year-old girlfriend, Heather Laruso Hutchins, in a move critics say is flat out wrong.
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.
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.
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.
Goodman faces criminal DUI manslaughter, vehicular homicide and other charges in the crash that killed Wilson. Goodman has pleaded not guilty. The criminal trial is scheduled for March 6th.
