Court Rules Goodman’s Adoption of His Girlfriend Is Void

As I have previously discussed, John Goodman adopted his girlfriend Heather Laruso Hutchins, which would entitle her to a third of his biological children’s trust fund.The fund is worth about $300 Million. Now, a court has voided the adult adoption of the polo tycoon. The children, through their legal guardian Jeffrey Goddess, that brought charges against their father alleging that he was committing fraud through the adoption process.His biological children “demanded that a judge throw out the dad’s move to adopt his lover, accusing him of intentionally duping the court.”

All of this came after Goodman was charged with “DUI manslaughter, vehicular manslaughter, and leaving the scene of the crash.” In 2010, Goodman smashed his car into Scott Smith’s vehicle causing Smith’s car to veer into a canal where he drowned. Not only have criminal charges have been placed against him but also has a civil suit been filed by Smith’s parents. Many believe that the adoption of his girlfriend was intended to shield his assets from potential liability. Goodman’s attorney deny these allegations and claim that Goodman only intends “to secure the assets of his children and family investments.”

See Beth Stebner, Thomas Durante, and Snejana Farberov, Judge Strikes Down Disgraced Polo Billionaire’s Adoption of his 42-Year-Old Girlfriend So She Could Share His Children’s $300m Trust Fund, The Daily Mail, Mar. 28, 2013.