O.J. Simpson’s Heisman Trophy, golf golf equipment, high-end sports activities utility car and even his driver’s license will quickly be bought to repay a debt the notorious soccer star carried past his personal demise.
A Nevada probate decide agreed Friday to a proposal by authorized representatives of Simpson’s property to public sale “distinctive and high-profile” private property, in line with legal professional’s representing the property. It’s not clear how a lot cash the public sale will increase, however it’s meant to assist pay a portion of a civil declare by the household of homicide sufferer Ron Goldman.
Thomas Grover, who represents Simpson property legal professional Malcolm LaVergne, mentioned the property was already “starting the method to public sale the gadgets quickly.”
The motion comes a day after Fred Goldman, father of slain waiter Ron Goldman, filed a creditor declare in Clark County District Court docket for $117 million in opposition to Simpson’s property.
Michaelle Rafferty, lead legal professional for Goldman, mentioned there have been no objections from the Goldman household over the public sale.
“Our hope is that Mr. LaVergne will use very respected public sale homes and that these funds will come again to the property,” Rafferty mentioned Friday afternoon.
Either side are anticipated again in court docket subsequent month.
Ron Goldman’s household received a wrongful demise civil case in opposition to Simpson in 1997, which discovered him accountable for the murders of Goldman and Simpson’s ex-wife Nicole Brown Simpson. The household was initially awarded $8.5 million in compensatory damages.
The jury later awarded $25 million in punitive damages to be cut up between Nicole Brown Simpson and Goldman relations.
The civil victories got here after Simpson’s well-known acquittal within the double homicide legal case, generally known as the “Trial of the Century,” in October 1995.
The 76-year-old Simpson died in April of prostate most cancers.
Fred Goldman and daughter Kim lamented that “true accountability has ended” with Simpson’s demise. Nonetheless, Fred Goldman continued pursuing civil collections.
LaVergne was, at first, hostile to the thought of paying off the civil judgment, telling the Las Vegas Evaluate Journal in an interview two days after Simpson’s passing that the Goldman household would “get zero, nothing.” “I’ll do all the pieces in my capability because the executor or private consultant to attempt to be certain that they get nothing,” he mentioned.
LaVergne mellowed, nonetheless, and vowed in an interview with The Instances to “deal with this factor in a peaceful and dispassionate method.”
LaVergne’s retraction didn’t shock Rafferty.
“The state of affairs modifications dramatically with a demise,” she mentioned. “Mr. LaVergne was representing his consumer personally, and now it’s concerning the property, proceedings and addressing collectors.”
Court docket paperwork from 2015 present the household has obtained about $132,000 of the whole legal responsibility.
The $117 million declare contains three renewed judgments in opposition to Simpson from 2015, 2016 and 2022 together with curiosity. Statutory curiosity alone from June 3, 2022, to July 25, 2024, accounted for an extra $20.7 million. Goldman can also be claiming a each day quantity of accrued curiosity of at the very least $16,638.73.
It’s unknown what kind of memorabilia or possessions stay on Simpson’s property.
Rafferty mentioned she had not obtained a listing from LaVergne and doesn’t know finally how a lot the Goldman household will gather.
She mentioned LaVergne was obligated to present discover concerning the meant public sale homes, belongings and opening bid costs.
“We’ll look it over and we’ll have two weeks to object,” she mentioned.
