A Palm Beach County Circuit judge held that a majority "child's" trust assets are part of the "father's" personal assets, when the "father" controls the "child's" trust assets. 

 

In 1991, millionaire John Goodman set up a trust for his two minor children.  Each child would receive a share of the trust when they turned 35.  Both children are presently under the age of 35. 

 

Goodman now faces criminal and civil charges for the death of 23-year-old Scott Wilson.  In 2010, Goodman ran a stop sign and hit Wilson.  Goodman then left the scene of the accident. Wilson's car went into a canal where he ultimately drowned. A subsequent blood test registered Goodman with a blood alcohol level twice the legal limit in Florida.

 

In September 2011, a Palm Beach County Circuit judge found that Goodman did not have control over his children's trust, and held that the trust's assets were off limits to a civil judgment for damages. Stating he was dissatisfied with the way the "trust was administered", Goodman then adopted his 42-year old girlfriend, giving her immediate access to a third of the trust's assets.  

 

The Circuit Court found the adoption to be a "game-changer as Goodman 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 Circuit Court then held that a jury may consider the millions controlled by Goodman's "girlfriend/daughter" if they decide Goodman owes the Wilson family damages for the death of their son.

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