Wealthy businessman sued for DUI wrongful death adopts girlfriend; is it incest for them to have sex?

48-year-old Florida wealthy Polo club founder John Goodman, who is currently in the middle of a civil case over a drunk driving death he caused in 2010, is receiving a lot of heat for adopting his 42-year-old girlfriend Heather Hutchins October 2011. Not only is that a weird act, but plaintiff’s attorneys believe this odd legal action was a blatant attempt to shield his assets from the legal proceedings.

Sounds sort of fishy, but while the legal system works out this mess, it still begs the question: Now that his girlfriend is his daughter, is it legally considered incest to have sex with her?

Because of Florida laws, no, it is not considered incest (an illegal act) for Goodman to have sex with his girlfriend/daughter. Florida deems sex between the two admissible because although they are now legally father and daughter, they are not blood relatives.

“826.04 Incest.—Whoever knowingly marries or has sexual intercourse with a person to whom he or she is related by lineal consanguinity, or a brother, sister, uncle, aunt, nephew, or niece, commits incest, which constitutes a felony of the third degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.082, s. 775.083, or s. 775.084. “Sexual intercourse” is the penetration of the female sex organ by the male sex organ, however slight; emission of semen is not required. History.—s. 47, ch. 74-383; s. 30, ch. 75-298; s. 1281, ch. 97-102.”

Shorting after 1 a.m. February 12, 2010, Goodman (who’s blood alcohol level was twice the legal limit) ran a stop sign with his black Bently, and ran into 23-year-old Scott Patrick Wilson’s car, killing him. Goodman reportedly made no effort to help Wilson, and waiting an hour to call the police. There have been pictures published of Goodman grinning afterwards while receiving treatment in a hospital. Wilson’s family is now suing Goodman for wrongful death. The trial begins March 27.

Goodman was arrested May 19, 2010 on DUI manslaughter and vehicular homicide charges, and booked at Palm Beach County jail. He was released on $100,000 bond.

Goodman’s attorney Dan Bachi claims that the adoption, which was filed October 17, 2011 in Miami-Dade county “has nothing to do with the lawsuit currently pending against him.”

The judge in the case has called this adoption move “unprecedented” and makes the case enter the “legal twilight zone.”