The estate of O.J. Simpson is now taking concrete steps toward addressing the long-standing $57.9 million wrongful-death judgment owed to the family of Ron Goldman — a debt Fred Goldman has pursued relentlessly for nearly three decades. The judgment stems from the 1996 civil trial that found Simpson liable for the deaths of Ron Goldman and Nicole Brown Simpson, even though he had been acquitted in the criminal trial the year before (AP News).

According to new filings in Nevada Probate Court, estate executor Malcolm LaVergne is preparing to liquidate Simpson’s remaining possessions in order to generate funds toward the massive balance. TMZ first reported that both sides had agreed on a negotiated settlement figure of roughly $58 million, reflecting the amount owed on Goldman’s Nevada claim (TMZ reporting).

Among the personal items expected to be auctioned are some of Simpson’s most recognizable memorabilia, including his NFL Hall of Fame ring and the 1984 Olympic torch he carried during the Los Angeles Games — items that collectors have speculated could draw significant bids due to their historical and cultural relevance (Los Angeles Times).

The Estate Responds and Legal Complexities Grow

A lawyer for Fred Goldman described the settlement as an important acknowledgment of the debt — not a payment, but a formal step that pushes the process forward after years of stalled efforts (CNN reporting).

However, settling on $58 million is only the beginning. Because interest has continued to accumulate, LaVergne estimates the final total could balloon to $70 million to $80 million, depending on Nevada’s variable court-approved interest rates. The Daily Mail reported that interest on the Nevada judgment has been running since February 2021.

LaVergne noted that calculating the precise amount is complicated, requiring several financial adjustments and legal reviews. He also emphasized that Goldman’s team has the right to challenge the final calculation but encouraged both parties to work through any disagreements informally rather than continuing protracted litigation.

Why Nevada Became the New Battleground

Goldman's decision to file a foreign judgment in Nevada in 2021 represented a strategic shift after years of difficulty collecting in California. Simpson spent his final years living in Las Vegas, and Nevada law provided new avenues for enforcement that were not fully available in California (USA Today).

While California’s interest rules allowed Goldman to pursue more than $117 million, the Nevada filing sought a more streamlined — though still substantial — figure of $58 million.

LaVergne has been frank about the estate’s limitations, admitting that recovering anything close to the full amount is unlikely unless “someone buys a lottery ticket” and donates the winnings.

Missing Memorabilia and Additional Claims

According to the New York Post, LaVergne is also addressing issues surrounding stolen Simpson memorabilia, some of which may have been taken or dispersed over the years. He has been working with attorneys to trace and potentially recover the missing items so they can be included in the estate’s asset pool.

In an unusual twist, LaVergne says he plans to request that the court award Goldman administrative fees for assisting the estate in navigating certain aspects of the process — a rare instance in which a creditor may also be compensated for cooperative efforts.

Almost all other creditor claims have been denied. The estate has accepted only two:

1. Goldman’s settlement judgment, and

2. An outstanding IRS claim, which must be paid before any state or private creditors.

After the IRS, the estate will turn to a $636,945 claim filed by the State of California, which remains subordinate to federal priority rules (Forbes reporting).

A Judgment Three Decades in the Making

As previously reported by Finurah, the original judgment awarded to the Goldman family in 1997 was $33.5 million. Over nearly thirty years, accumulated interest turned that figure into well over $117 million — an amount widely cited in public records and media coverage (AP News).

The civil ruling remains one of the most famous in American legal history, marking a rare case in which a defendant was acquitted in criminal court but held financially liable in civil court. The dual outcomes have been studied extensively in legal, academic, and media circles for decades.

Now, with Simpson deceased and the estate finally initiating the process of liquidating assets, Fred Goldman may be closer than ever to receiving a portion of the damages he has been pursuing since 1996 — though whether he will recover a meaningful share remains an open question.