The families of Nicole Brown Simpson and Ronald Goldman continue their decades-long pursuit of justice and financial compensation from O.J. Simpson. Despite a civil court jury finding Simpson liable for the deaths of his ex-wife and her friend in 1997 and ordering him to pay over $33 million, the families have only received a small portion of the judgment. With Simpson’s recent death, legal experts suggest a new opportunity for the families to collect, although they anticipate a potentially lengthy battle ahead.
Malcolm LaVergne, Simpson’s longtime attorney and executor of his estate, has acknowledged that Fred Goldman’s claim against Simpson’s estate will likely be accepted. This statement marks a departure from LaVergne’s previous comment expressing hope that the Goldmans would receive nothing. LaVergne now urges a more calm and dispassionate approach to handling the matter.
Simpson’s will, filed in Clark County court in Nevada, reveals 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 the estate, but the amount they may ultimately receive remains uncertain.
Determining the value of Simpson’s assets is currently underway, with LaVergne stating that there may be value in Simpson’s possessions simply because he owned them. However, it appears that Simpson does not own any property. Public records reveal a complex network of corporations associated with Simpson, including OJ Simpson Enterprises, which reported $873,000 in sales in March, though the origin of this money remains unclear.
Recovering the damages from Simpson has proven to be a challenging task for the Goldman family. Simpson claimed he did not have the funds to pay the judgment, and estimates of his net worth varied widely. He relocated to Florida, where his home was protected from seizure by creditors under state law. Simpson received pensions, including from the NFL and the Screen Actors Guild, which were safeguarded from seizure under federal law.
Over the years, the Goldmans have pursued Simpson’s memorabilia and obtained his book, “If I Did It,” in which he discussed the hypothetical details of the slayings. They also sought various items, including a Rolex watch, which were later returned or determined to be fake. In 2018, they attempted to claim money Simpson received for signing memorabilia related to “The People v. O.J. Simpson” television series, but identifying the exact payers was necessary to proceed.
