kong
04-23-2012, 03:16 AM
John Goodman $46 Million Settlement Shows Money Can't Buy Everything
COMMENTARY | In his lifetime, John Goodman's money has bought him many opportunities. According to The Upshot, the heir of an air conditioning fortune and the founder of the International Polo Club Palm Beach had a substantial trust fund for his children. He drove a $200,000 car that he would later allege malfunctioned and caused the death of 23-year-old Scott Wilson. He had a girlfriend willing to be legally adopted by him to secure a third of his children's $300 million trust. But all the money and the influence and power that went with it didn't stop Goodman from being found guilty last month of DUI manslaughter in the death of Wilson. It didn't prevent experts from testifying that he had a blood alcohol level more than twice Florida's legal limit three hours after the crash. Money wasn't enough to convince a jury that Goodman's Bentley had a malfunction that caused it to accelerate that night, with such force that it pushed Wilson's car into a canal. It wasn't enough to convince the jury that Goodman didn't leave the scene of the accident, and therefore, leave Wilson to drown in that canal. Goodman's money wasn't enough to keep his biological children from filing a lawsuit in response to the "adoption" of his girlfriend. And it wasn't enough to keep the parents of Scott Wilson from filing a civil suit against him for the wrongful death of their son. On Friday, the settlement of that civil suit was revealed. Goodman will pay $46 million to Wilson's parents. But money won't bring back the life of the young man. Goodman faces up to 30 years in prison when he is sentenced on April 30. His legal team is trying to gain a new trial, stating that there was jury misconduct. Of all the things Goodman's money couldn't buy, he still has money to fight the consequences of his actions. And he certainly has the time.
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COMMENTARY | In his lifetime, John Goodman's money has bought him many opportunities. According to The Upshot, the heir of an air conditioning fortune and the founder of the International Polo Club Palm Beach had a substantial trust fund for his children. He drove a $200,000 car that he would later allege malfunctioned and caused the death of 23-year-old Scott Wilson. He had a girlfriend willing to be legally adopted by him to secure a third of his children's $300 million trust. But all the money and the influence and power that went with it didn't stop Goodman from being found guilty last month of DUI manslaughter in the death of Wilson. It didn't prevent experts from testifying that he had a blood alcohol level more than twice Florida's legal limit three hours after the crash. Money wasn't enough to convince a jury that Goodman's Bentley had a malfunction that caused it to accelerate that night, with such force that it pushed Wilson's car into a canal. It wasn't enough to convince the jury that Goodman didn't leave the scene of the accident, and therefore, leave Wilson to drown in that canal. Goodman's money wasn't enough to keep his biological children from filing a lawsuit in response to the "adoption" of his girlfriend. And it wasn't enough to keep the parents of Scott Wilson from filing a civil suit against him for the wrongful death of their son. On Friday, the settlement of that civil suit was revealed. Goodman will pay $46 million to Wilson's parents. But money won't bring back the life of the young man. Goodman faces up to 30 years in prison when he is sentenced on April 30. His legal team is trying to gain a new trial, stating that there was jury misconduct. Of all the things Goodman's money couldn't buy, he still has money to fight the consequences of his actions. And he certainly has the time.
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