A wealthy Florida man has adopted his 42-year-old girlfriend as his daughter in a move critics allege will protect his assets from a wrongful death lawsuit.

Polo Club Palm Beach founder John Goodman, 48, adopted his longtime partner Heather Laruso Hutchins in October, the Palm Beach Post reported.

The move is an attempt to shore up Goodman's wealth as he confronts a wrongful death lawsuit filed by the parents of Scott Wilson, according to The Associated Press.

Wilson, a 23-year-old University of Central Florida graduate, was killed in 2010 when Goodman allegedly ran a stop sign.

Attorneys for Wilson's family allege Goodman is merely trying shield his trust fund assets from potential lawsuit damages. Goodman's lawyer said the adoption is aimed at ensuring the future stability of his assets, West Palm Beach TV station WPBF reported.

Goodman also faces criminal DUI manslaughter, vehicular homicide and other charges in the crash.

Detectives said Goodman's blood-alcohol level was more than twice the legal limit when he slammed into Wilson's car. Wilson drowned after his car plummeted into a canal, according to WPBF.