Fred Goldman Moves Closer to Payment from OJ Simpson’s Estate

Los Angeles, CA — Fred Goldman may finally receive payment from O.J. Simpson‘s estate nearly 30 years after winning a wrongful death judgment against the former football star. Malcolm LaVergne, the executor of Simpson’s estate, has accepted a creditor claim from Goldman for $57,997,858.12, plus ongoing judgment interest.

This amount was reached after negotiations between the estate and Goldman, whose son, Ron Goldman, was killed alongside Simpson’s ex-wife, Nicole Brown Simpson, in June 1994. The figure includes the original $33 million judgment from the 1995 civil lawsuit, along with accrued interest over the years.

LaVergne initially disputed Goldman’s calculations and suggested a lower amount, which Goldman later accepted. The executor stated that the estate plans to pay much of the approved amount through ongoing auctions of Simpson’s possessions.

LaVergne mentioned that some memorabilia has been stolen and is currently working with attorneys to recover those items. He also intends to request that the court award Goldman administrative fees for assistance in managing the estate.

So far, LaVergne has rejected most creditor claims, accepting only Goldman’s and one from the Internal Revenue Service. The estate will prioritize IRS payments to meet federal tax obligations before addressing other debts, including an approximately $636,945 claim from California. LaVergne added that the state would need to take legal action for payment.

The agreement with Goldman marks a shift from LaVergne’s initial position when he had previously rejected Goldman’s claims. However, he committed to accepting the father’s claim following discussions.

The brutal murders of Nicole Brown Simpson and Ronald Goldman occurred on June 13, 1994, outside Brown Simpson’s Brentwood condominium. Following a lengthy and highly publicized trial, O.J. Simpson was acquitted of the murders. Goldman’s family later filed a wrongful death lawsuit against him.

In February 1997, after three days of jury deliberation, the jury found Simpson liable for both deaths, awarding $8.5 million in compensatory damages to Goldman’s family and an additional $25 million in punitive damages.

Despite the substantial judgment, the families have received only a small portion of the awarded damages during Simpson’s lifetime.