In a significant development, O.J. Simpson’s estate is making strides in addressing the multi-million dollar civil judgment awarded to Ron Goldman’s family. This comes following a decision by a California judge in 1997, which has seen little movement until now.
More than three decades have passed since the tragic deaths of Ron Goldman, aged 25, and Nicole Brown Simpson, the ex-wife of the former NFL star. Both were viciously attacked outside her Brentwood residence, an incident for which Simpson was acquitted in 1995 after a lengthy trial that captivated the nation.
Malcolm Lavergne, the lawyer tasked with executing the Simpson estate, announced to the Daily Mail that he has formally agreed to the nearly $58 million sum demanded by Fred Goldman, the father of the late Ron Goldman.
This week, Lavergne took a crucial step by submitting documentation to the Nevada Probate Court, signaling his intent to settle the substantial amount. With accrued interest, Lavergne anticipates the final figure to range between $70 million and $80 million.
This move marks a notable shift from Lavergne’s previous stance in April, where he expressed a desire for the Goldmans to receive “zero, nothing,” and vowed to ensure they would not collect any funds.
Despite this progress, both parties need to finalize the exact amount owed in interest, a task Lavergne describes as a “pain in the butt” due to Nevada’s court interest rate, which adjusts biannually according to the state’s prime rate.
‘He’s not off by that much,’ Lavergne said of the Goldman team’s math. ‘But he’s off by enough that we need to work to get it right.’
The civil case originated in California, but since Simpson lived in Las Vegas from 2017 until his death in April 2024, it was nearly impossible for the state to enforce the decades-old judgment.
The estate of OJ Simpson (pictured in July 2017) has officially agreed to pay Ron Goldman’s family $58 million plus interest.
Ron Goldman, a friend of Nicole Brown Simpson’s, was 25 years old when he was murdered in June 1994. Simpson was the only suspect in the double homicide outside his ex-wife’s Brentwood home but was acquitted in 1995
Fred Goldman, Ron’s father, has spent 31 years pursuing the tens of millions of dollars Simpson owes his family after a California judge found the ex-football player civilly liable for the murders
Court records indicate that Goldman, now 84, filed what’s called a foreign judgment against Simpson in February 2021 in the state of Nevada.
That officially shifted the case over to Nevada, where Goldman asked for $58 million, a much lower amount than the $117 million he was previously seeking based on California’s much friendlier payout structure to creditors.
Any interest the Goldman family will collect started accruing back in February 2021, when the claim was domesticated in Nevada.
Lavergne acknowledged that had Simpson stayed in California, Goldman likely would have had a much easier time getting paid out.
Lavergne explained that Goldman still has the right to object to final number offered by the estate.
He also stressed that the best option for Goldman would be to come to him with any disagreements and not file any more motions in court.
Goldman didn’t immediately return a request for comment.
When asked if Goldman will realistically be able to collect on the majority of the judgment against Simpson’s estate, Lavergne said ‘the answer is no unless I buy a lottery ticket’.
‘And I happen to know that OJ didn’t win the lottery,’ he said, adding that in the latter years of his life, he frequently gambled on sports.
Simpson is pictured with Nicole Brown Simpson in 1993, a year after the couple got divorced and a year before she was murdered
Simpson is pictured carrying the Olympic torch through the streets of Santa Monica for the 1984 Games. This is one possession that will be sold off to pay Simpson’s creditors, which include the Goldmans and the IRS for unpaid taxes
Complicating matters further is the fact that Lavergne still has to settle Simpson’s tax debt with the IRS, something he is prioritizing before he pays the Goldman family.
To actually come up with the money to pay Simpson’s creditors, Lavergne is looking to auction off Simpson’s last remaining valuables.
This includes his NFL Hall of Fame ring, an honor that was bestowed upon him in 1985, six years after he retired from the league in 1979.
It also includes the Olympic torch he carried through the streets of Santa Monica for the 1984 Games. Nicole Brown, then his girlfriend, jogged behind him during his segment of the relay.
‘There’s still a lot of work to do, but we’re making progress,’ Lavergne said.
