A wealthy Florida businessman has legally adopted his 42-year-old girlfriend as his daughter in a move critics say will protect the man’s assets during an upcoming lawsuit.

Polo Club Palm Beach founder John Goodman, 48, adopted his longtime partner Heather Laruso Hutchins, 42, in October of last year. Goodman is currently involved in a lawsuit with the parents of a 23-year-old man killed in an automobile accident he was invovled in and attorneys say adopting his girlfriend was an unprecedented move to shield his assets.

And you wonder how the rich stay rich? They do crazy sh*t like this!

More details about this bizarre “parental” relationship below…

According to the Palm Beach Post, Goodman’s legal strategy could shield his wealth if he were to lose the wrongful death case filed against him by the parents of Scott Patrick Wilson.? 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, and those assets are protected against any judgement if Wilson’s parents win their civil suit.

As his legal daughter after the adoption, Goodman’s girlfriend will now be considered his third legal child, and is also now entitled to a third of the money in the trust. [How devious is that??]

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 was merely done to guarantee the Goodman children’s future and denied that it was spurred by the lawsuit.

But c’mon… we all know the real deal! I’m kinda confused though as to why he just didn’t marry the broad, either way she gets the dough right? But I guess whatever it takes to keep it in the family… *shrug*

Would you consider adopting YOUR significant other (as opposed to marriage)?

(source)