Readers of Anderson’s blog may recall one of his ongoing series of “ick” stores, the tale of a rich defendant in a wrongful death suit who had adopted his girlfriend so they could have the benefit of the trust set up for his children. I observed in comments (over some dissent that was never explained) that this would likely raise objections from the actual children who were beneficiaries of said trust.
Just in time (well, a little before) for Valentines, the New York Times has caught up with the story, and reports:
But the adoption also could make at least one-third of the trust fair game in the lawsuit; initially, the judge in the civil case had ruled the trust off limits because it was set up for Mr. Goodman’s two teenage children, who cannot access the funds until they are 35. The adoption of a 42-year-old girlfriend, though, proved a game changer, and the judge is reconsidering. The civil trial is scheduled for the end of March.
“This adult adoption in my view basically puts me in the legal twilight zone,” said Judge Glenn Kelley of Palm Beach Circuit Court, said at a hearing in his courtroom, calling it “surreal.”
The adoption, which opposing lawyers call a sham, is now being challenged by Mr. Goodman’s minor children, who are represented by a guardian. The adoption took place in October but did not come to light until recently. The trust was set up by Mr. Goodman and his ex-wife, Isla Carroll Goodman, whose family shares in the Exxon oil fortune.
“I know that the guardian who was appointed as of that time was not told of the adoption,” said Joseph L. Rebak, the lawyer who is challenging the adoption in Miami.
It is always amusing to see the vexation some wealthy people can derive from their vast fortunes.
As the article implies, the accident was in Palm Beach county; the adoption was in Miami-Dade–