Facing 30 years

Girlfriend-adopting millionaire's manslaughter trial draws celebrity lawyers &polo pros

John Goodman
ABC News
Scott Wilson
Wilson Family

The upcoming civil case against John Goodman — that's the one that shed light on the Houston-raised millionaire's controversial adoption of his girlfriend — has received plenty of attention lately. But on Tuesday, Goodman's criminal trial for DUI manslaughter begins, with the air conditioning heir and polo mogul facing up to 30 years if convicted.

Charges stem from the night of Feb. 12, 2010, when Goodman left a celebrity bartending charity event and later sped through a stop sign in the Palm Beach suburb of Wellington, hitting the car of 23-year-old Scott Wilson and sending it into a nearby canal, where Wilson drowned.

Experts predict the trial will be centered largely around how much Goodman had to drink that night and when he drank it.

Goodman did not attempt to help Wilson, according to the police report. Instead he walked 100 yards, knocking on witness Lisa Pendleton's door to use her phone. His first call was to his girlfriend in Georgia, and though he expressed concern to Pendleton over appearing intoxicated, Goodman eventually called 911 about an hour after the accident.

His blood alcohol level was later tested at .177, double the legal limit.

Experts predict the trial will be centered largely around how much Goodman had to drink that night and when he drank it. The witness list includes several employees of The Player's Club, where Goodman was before the crash. Professional polo player Kris Kampsen, who was a celebrity bartender at the event, could also be called to testify about what he saw Goodman drinking and his behavior.

The jury may also hear from Stacey Shore, who told investigators that she declined an invitation to leave with Goodman because he was intoxicated and because he told her he planned to go get some cocaine.

Goodman is represented by high-powered Miami attorney Roy Black, who has also defended Rush Limbaugh and William Kennedy Smith, and the prosecution will be led by veteran prosecutor and assistant state attorney Ellen Roberts, who has tried more than 60 traffic homicide cases in her career.

The six-person jury will see both Goodman's Bentley Continental GTC convertible and Wilson's Hyundai Sonata, as both are being moved to a site near the courthouse.

The civil case against Goodman filed by Wilson's parents for his wrongful death is scheduled for late March.

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Thanks, Queen Bey

Pop icon Beyoncé donates $100,000 to University of Houston Law School

Photo by Erza Shaw Getty Images

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Pop megastar Beyoncé Knowles-Carter has donated $100,000 to the University of Houston Law Center Criminal Justice Clinic through her BeyGOOD Foundation. The gift will allow the clinic to hire fill-time faculty to head it, benefiting the students who study there.

“I am delighted that the BeyGOOD Foundation has made this very generous gift to the UH Law Center,” said Leonard Baynes, dean of the UH Law Center. “Not only will this funding help establish a full-time criminal justice clinic that provides pro bono legal services in our community, but it will also supercharge our already excellent criminal law and justice programming.”

The clinic is one of nine at UHLC. It helps students learn to navigate the criminal justice system, especially on behalf of clients that are underserved by skilled attorneys. People of color are affected disproportionately by a lack of good, ethical representation.

Beyoncé, the most decorated artist in Grammy history and easily the biggest musical star native to Houston, has a long history of advocating for criminal justice reform. She was a staunch supporter of the police reform following the deaths of Alton Sterling and Philando Castile, asking law enforcement to “stop killing us” in a web post. In 2020, she penned an open letter to the Kentucky attorney general asking for justice in the death of Breonna Taylor.

Through her BeyGOOD Foundation, established in 2013, Beyoncé has focused mostly on expanding the prospects of Black-owned business and offering education opportunities to students. Forwarding the cause of legal representation in Texas while also helping out marginalized communities compliments her other philanthropic work.

“At UH Law, we envision a legal profession where ‘everyone has the opportunity to prosper,’ as BeyGOOD envisions, and we will achieve this vision by providing access to strong and effective legal representation in criminal proceedings,” Baynes said. “And together, through this gift, the BeyGOOD Foundation and UHLC will shepherd the next generation of criminal justice attorneys in the city of Houston, the state of Texas and the nation.”