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 her friend Ronald Goldman, and was ordered to pay more than $33 million to their families. However, recovery of the damages has been a prolonged and challenging process. While it remains unclear how much of the damages have been recovered by the families, the pursuit for justice by the Goldman family will continue despite Mr. Simpson’s death. The judgment of $33 million, awarded to the families in 1997, included $25 million in punitive damages on the basis that Mr. Simpson “willingly and wrongfully” caused the deaths of Ms. Brown Simpson and Mr. Goldman. The Goldman family has only received a fraction of the total amount owed, with the current amount standing at $114 million due to 10 percent annual interest on the unpaid portion.
Mr. Simpson’s will was filed in Clark County court in Nevada on Friday, revealing that his property is being placed in a trust. The executor of his estate, Malcolm LaVergne, is working with legal experts and accountants to examine all claims against the estate, including the outstanding damages owed to the Goldman family. Mr. LaVergne indicated that Mr. Simpson may have had previous debts to the Internal Revenue Service but did not provide details. While he expressed willingness to pay amounts owed to the Goldman family and others if required, he also mentioned the possibility of dealing with the estate in a way that excludes the Goldmans.
Recovering the damages from Mr. Simpson has always been a challenge for the Goldman family. Despite Mr. Simpson’s claims of having no way to pay the amount, he has continued to receive pensions from various sources, totaling around $400,000 a year, which are protected from seizure under local laws in Florida. Mr. Simpson’s efforts to avoid responsibility for the jury award have frustrated the Goldman family over the years. However, legal expert Christopher Melcher emphasized that the judgment itself has had an impact on Mr. Simpson, acting as a sort of debtor’s prison that would haunt him for the rest of his life. Claims against a person’s estate can take a long time to resolve, as seen in the case of Michael Jackson, whose estate has not yet been closed since his death in 2009.
The Goldman family remains determined to hold Mr. Simpson accountable for the deaths of Ronald Goldman and Nicole Brown Simpson, despite the challenges in recovering the damages. The judgement in the civil trial was not primarily about the money for the Goldman family, but more about ensuring that the man responsible for their loved ones’ deaths is held accountable. Fred Goldman, Ronald’s father, expressed this sentiment after the civil trial, emphasizing that the main goal was to see justice served. With the ongoing pursuit of the outstanding damages, the Goldman family is unwavering in their commitment to seeing Mr. Simpson take responsibility for his actions. While the legal battle for restitution continues, the Goldmans are focused on the larger goal of upholding justice and honoring the memory of their loved ones.
