The executor of O.J. Simpson’s estate, Malcolm LaVergne, has expressed his intent to challenge the payment of a $33.5 million judgment from a civil lawsuit awarded almost three decades ago against Simpson.
This judgment was related to the wrongful death claims made by the families of Nicole Brown Simpson and Ron Goldman, Simpson’s ex-wife and her friend.
Simpson’s will was recently submitted in a Clark County, Nevada court, designating his longtime attorney, LaVergne, as the executor. The will reveals that Simpson’s assets have been transferred into a trust established earlier this year.
LaVergne, speaking to the Las Vegas Review-Journal, mentioned that the total value of Simpson’s estate is still being determined, and under Nevada law, it must undergo a court probate process if the assets are valued over $20,000.
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Simpson passed away on Wednesday, having paid very little towards the substantial civil judgment from 1997, which found him liable in the deaths. His passing means his estate will now enter the probate process, potentially allowing the Goldman and Brown families to claim a portion of his remaining assets.
LaVergne, representing Simpson since 2009, explicitly stated his opposition to the Goldman family receiving any funds from the estate. “It’s my hope that the Goldmans get zero, nothing,” LaVergne declared, indicating his dedication to prevent any payout to them.
This stance comes amid historical tensions, notably surrounding a controversial book project by Simpson titled “If I Did It,” which the Goldman family eventually gained control over and renamed “If I Did It: Confessions of the Killer.”
Despite Simpson’s earlier fame as a football player and actor, his reputation was marred by the 1994 murders and the subsequent 1995 trial, where he was acquitted of criminal charges, a saga that captivated the nation.
Fred Goldman, leading the plaintiffs, has consistently stated that the lawsuit was less about financial compensation and more about holding Simpson accountable. Following Simpson’s death, Fred Goldman remarked that the chance for real accountability had diminished.
As the estate proceedings unfold, the Brown and Goldman families, alongside other creditors, are positioned to stake their claims under the regulations of the newly established trust. The will specifies that challenging its provisions would result in any disputant receiving only one dollar, emphasizing the stringent terms Simpson set forth regarding his estate’s distribution.
