More than 25 years ago, O.J. Simpson was found liable in civil court for the deaths of his ex-wife Nicole Brown Simpson and Ronald Goldman and was ordered to pay more than $33 million to their families. The Goldman family has yet to fully recover the damages owed to them. Despite O.J. Simpson’s recent death, the Goldman family remains determined to pursue the judgment against him. David Cook, a lawyer for Fred Goldman (Ronald’s father), stated that they would continue to pursue the money owed to them following Simpson’s passing. The judgment against Simpson stemmed from a civil trial in 1997, in which the jury found him “willingly and wrongfully” caused the deaths of Brown Simpson and Goldman.
Court documents filed in 2022 revealed that the Goldman family had received around $132,000 from Simpson, a fraction of the total amount owed. The current amount owed now stands at $114 million, taking into account annual 10 percent interest increases on the outstanding balance. Simpson’s estate will be managed under a trust arrangement, with Malcolm LaVergne, a longtime attorney for Simpson, acting as the executor. LaVergne mentioned that if there were claims that needed to be paid out, including those to the Goldman family, they would be addressed accordingly. He is also advising the family on estate matters, including arrangements for Simpson’s cremation and funeral.
Despite the ongoing pursuit of damages owed, Simpson had previously claimed he had no way of paying the amount following the civil trial. He moved to Florida in 2000, where his home was protected from seizure by debtors under local law, and continued to receive substantial pensions from various sources each year. Fred Goldman expressed his frustration with Simpson’s avoidance of accountability for the judgment, stating that he had made efforts to evade the payment. However, legal limitations on garnishing wages and seizing property hindered the Goldman family’s efforts to recover the full amount owed to them.
The Goldman family remains dedicated to holding Simpson accountable for the deaths of Ronald Goldman and Nicole Brown Simpson, even if recovering the full monetary judgment proves challenging. An attorney specializing in family law emphasized the enduring impact of the judgment on Simpson’s financial affairs, suggesting that it functioned as a form of “debtor’s prison” that would continue to hinder his ability to amass wealth. While the wait for claiming portions of Simpson’s estate may be prolonged, the family’s primary aim has always been to ensure that he takes responsibility for his role in the tragic deaths of their loved ones. By continuing to pursue the judgment against Simpson, the Goldman family hopes to achieve a measure of closure and justice for the losses they have endured.
