Three-Decade Legal Battle Concludes with Multi-Million Pound Settlement
The estate of the late American football star OJ Simpson has formally agreed to a financial settlement with Fred Goldman, the father of murder victim Ron Goldman, in a wrongful death case that has remained unresolved for over thirty years. The payout, which could reach a staggering £61 million, marks a significant development in one of the most infamous legal sagas in modern history.
From Criminal Acquittal to Civil Liability
The case stems from the brutal 1994 stabbings of 25-year-old Ron Goldman and Simpson's ex-wife, Nicole Brown Simpson, outside her Brentwood home. While Simpson was famously acquitted of their murders in a criminal trial the following year, a civil jury in 1997 found him liable for the deaths. The court subsequently ordered him to pay damages to the Goldman family.
For decades, the collection of that judgment proved difficult. However, the situation changed following Simpson's death from prostate cancer on April 10, 2024, at age 76. Malcolm Lavergne, the lawyer acting as the executor of Simpson's estate, has now confirmed that he has formally agreed to the settlement principle after years of resistance.
The Financial Details and a Lawyer's U-Turn
Last week, Lavergne filed official paperwork with the Nevada Probate Court confirming his intention to accept the payout. The core amount demanded by Ron's father is more than £44 million. With accrued interest, the total sum is expected to land somewhere between £53 million and £61 million.
This represents a dramatic reversal from Lavergne's previous stance. In April of last year, he publicly stated that he hoped "the Goldmans get zero, nothing" and vowed to fight to ensure they received nothing. The two sides must now finalise the exact amount of interest owed, a calculation Lavergne described as a "pain in the butt" due to Nevada's fluctuating court interest rates.
Fred Goldman, now 84, retains the right to object to the estate's final calculation, but Lavergne has suggested that direct negotiation is the preferred path over further court motions.
Challenges in Collection and Simpson's Legacy
Enforcing the judgment was complicated by Simpson's move to Las Vegas in 2017. In February 2021, Goldman officially filed the judgment in Nevada, a process known as domesticating a foreign judgment. This move reset the clock on interest calculations, with any additional interest now dating back only to February 2021.
Lavergne conceded that Goldman would have had a far easier time collecting the money had Simpson remained in California. When asked if the Goldman family could realistically collect the full judgment, Lavergne was pessimistic, replying, "The answer is no unless I buy a lottery ticket." He added that Simpson, who gambled heavily on sports in his later years, did not have such a windfall.
Further complicating the matter is Simpson's outstanding tax debt. Lavergne confirmed that the IRS must be paid before the Goldman family receives any funds. To raise money, the estate plans to auction Simpson's remaining valuables, including his 1985 NFL Hall of Fame ring and the Olympic torch he carried in 1984.
The case also brought renewed attention to the history of domestic abuse. Nicole Brown Simpson had filed for divorce in 1992, citing irreconcilable differences after a seven-year marriage. Simpson had previously pleaded no contest to spousal abuse in 1989, and reports indicated that abuse continued even after they attempted a reconciliation post-divorce.
