O.J. Simpson and a decades-long civil judgment collided as soon as extra as his property agreed to pay Fred Goldman almost $58 million, resolving a monetary pursuit that started after the 1994 killings of Ron Goldman and Nicole Brown Simpson.

Executor Malcolm LaVergne signed off on Goldman’s creditor declare for $57,997,858.12 plus curiosity, based on TMZ. That quantity is about half of the $117 million Goldman initially requested, a determine inflated by almost 30 years of curiosity on the unique civil judgment.

The debt stems from a 1997 civil trial the place a jury unanimously discovered Simpson answerable for the wrongful deaths of his ex-wife and her good friend Ron Goldman.

The court docket awarded $8.5 million in compensatory damages to the Goldman household and one other $25 million in punitive damages to be break up between the Goldman and Brown households. That $33.5 million ballooned over time attributable to unpaid curiosity.

LaVergne instructed TMZ the property plans to pay “as much of the approved amount as possible through ongoing auctions of Simpson’s possessions.” He added that some memorabilia had been stolen and mentioned he’s working with attorneys to retrieve these gadgets.

Simpson spent years legally shielding his belongings. His NFL pension remained largely untouchable, and he moved to Florida, the place homestead legal guidelines supplied extra monetary safety. Despite these efforts, Simpson paid solely a small portion of the judgment whereas alive.

Even after his 2008 conviction for armed theft and kidnapping in a Las Vegas lodge room—an incident involving sports activities memorabilia—Simpson’s monetary obligations loomed. He was sentenced to as much as 33 years, a quantity eerily near the $33 million civil judgment. He served 9 years earlier than being paroled in 2017.

Simpson died in April 2024 at age 76 following a battle with most cancers. LaVergne, who as soon as mentioned he “would never pay the Goldman family” and needed them “to get zero, nothing from estate,” reversed course and accepted the declare.

The property has denied most different creditor claims, aside from Goldman’s and a separate demand from the Internal Revenue Service. LaVergne mentioned the IRS might be paid first to fulfill federal tax obligations earlier than another money owed, together with a $636,945 declare from California.

Fred Goldman’s pursuit of accountability started after the June 1994 murders exterior Nicole Brown Simpson’s Brentwood residence. Ron Goldman, 25, was working as a waiter and had gone to return a pair of glasses when he was killed. Simpson was acquitted of legal costs in 1995, however the civil trial held him accountable beneath a decrease burden of proof.

All 12 jurors within the civil case voted in opposition to Simpson on the primary poll after simply three days of deliberations.

LaVergne mentioned he plans to ask the court docket to award Goldman administrative charges for serving to handle the property. He reiterated that auctions of Simpson’s belongings will proceed to fund the settlement, although the property’s full worth continues to be unknown.

Simpson’s property formally accepted the declare in April 2024.

Related