LOS ANGELES — After nearly three decades of legal battles, the families of Nicole Brown Simpson and Ronald Goldman are determined to make O.J. Simpson pay the debt owed to them. In 1997, a civil court jury found Simpson responsible for the deaths of his ex-wife and her friend, ordering him to pay over $33 million to their families. However, the families have only received a small fraction of the judgment, which has now grown to over $100 million due to accumulated interest.
The recent death of O.J. Simpson has opened up a new opportunity for the families to finally collect the debt. Malcolm LaVergne, a longtime attorney for Simpson and executor of his estate, stated that Fred Goldman’s claim against Simpson’s estate will be accepted. This statement marks a departure from LaVergne’s previous comment, where he expressed hope that the Goldmans would receive nothing. LaVergne has now called for a more calm and dispassionate approach to handling the matter.
Simpson’s will was filed in Clark County court in Nevada, revealing that his personal property had been placed into a revocable living trust. However, the will does not disclose the details of Simpson’s assets or his wishes regarding any possessions left behind. The Goldman family can file a claim against Simpson’s estate, but the amount they may ultimately receive remains uncertain. Elizabeth Bawden, an estate planning specialist, explains that debts and charges must be paid in a specific order, with the Goldmans’ claim potentially being disbursed after administrative expenses, medical costs, and funeral expenses.
The value of Simpson’s assets at the time of his death remains unknown. LaVergne has not disclosed an estimated value, stating that he has just begun an inventory. While Simpson does not appear to own any property, his possessions may hold value simply because he owned them. Public records reveal a complex network of corporations associated with Simpson, with OJ Simpson Enterprises reporting $873,000 in sales in March, though the origin of this money is unclear.
The Goldman family has faced numerous challenges in their pursuit of collecting damages from Simpson. After the civil judgment in 1997, Simpson claimed he did not have the funds to pay. Estimates of his net worth varied, and he attempted to appeal the judgment to the California Supreme Court, which was denied. Simpson relocated to Florida, where his home was protected from seizure by creditors under state law. He received pensions from the NFL and the Screen Actors Guild, which were also protected from seizure under federal law.
Over the years, the Goldmans have relentlessly pursued Simpson’s memorabilia, including obtaining a recording in which Simpson discussed the slayings. In 2007, a judge ordered Simpson to give the Goldmans a Rolex watch, but it was later determined to be fake. Simpson was also ordered to surrender any memorabilia linked to him following an incident in Las Vegas, resulting in his arrest. The Goldmans sought money from Simpson’s earnings related to the television series “The People v. O.J. Simpson,” but they were required to identify the specific payers to pursue the proceeds. In the end, the family received just over $132,000 of the total liability.
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For readers interested in learning more about the O.J. Simpson case and its impact on American society, I recommend the documentary series “O.J.: Made in America.” This five-part documentary, directed by Ezra Edelman, provides a comprehensive and in-depth exploration of the case, examining not only the trial itself but also the broader social and cultural context in which it took place. It offers valuable insights into race relations, celebrity culture, and the criminal justice system. The series won the Academy Award for Best