O.J. Simpson Estate Moves Toward Settling $58 Million Goldman Wrongful Death Claim

The estate of O.J. Simpson is reportedly taking significant steps toward satisfying the longstanding civil judgment owed to Fred Goldman, whose son Ron Goldman was murdered alongside Nicole Brown Simpson nearly three decades ago. The Goldman family has pursued the claim since Simpson was found civilly liable in 1996, a year after his high-profile criminal acquittal (Finurah, New York Post).

According to a recent filing in Nevada Probate Court, estate executor Malcolm LaVergne plans to sell Simpson’s remaining assets to satisfy a negotiated settlement figure of roughly $57.9 million, essentially rounding up to $58 million (TMZ, Daily Mail). Items slated for auction reportedly include Simpson’s NFL Hall of Fame ring and the 1984 Olympic torch he carried, which are among the most valuable and symbolic of his personal memorabilia.

Estate Response and Next Steps
Fred Goldman’s attorney described the agreement as a positive acknowledgment of the debt. While it is not yet an actual payment, it is considered a meaningful step in resolving one of the most prolonged civil claims in recent history (New York Post).

Even with the $58 million negotiation, LaVergne has noted that interest will continue to accrue, potentially bringing the total owed to somewhere between $70 million and $80 million (Daily Mail). The interest on the Nevada claim has been accumulating since February 2021, when Goldman filed a foreign judgment in Nevada after years of struggling to enforce the California judgment while Simpson resided in Las Vegas. LaVergne has acknowledged that calculating the exact amount will be complex due to Nevada’s fluctuating statutory court interest rates, and Goldman retains the right to dispute the final total (TMZ, Daily Mail).

LaVergne cautioned that collecting the full amount remains highly unlikely, joking that only a “lottery ticket” could make such a scenario possible (New York Post). In addition, he is contending with issues surrounding stolen Simpson memorabilia, coordinating with attorneys to recover items or secure compensatory value.

Broader Estate Management
As part of the process, LaVergne has requested that the court allow Goldman to receive administrative fees for assisting with estate navigation. Other creditor claims have largely been rejected, with the exception of Goldman’s settlement and an outstanding IRS claim. The estate must prioritize payment of federal taxes before addressing the State of California’s approximately $636,945 claim (New York Post, Finurah).

The Goldman claim reflects a strategic shift from California to Nevada. While the original judgment in favor of the Goldman family was $33.5 million, decades of interest and legal maneuvering have increased the potential total to more than $117 million under California’s creditor-friendly interest rules (Finurah). The Nevada filing seeks a more manageable $58 million, streamlining enforcement while navigating state-specific rules (TMZ, Daily Mail).

Historical Context
The long-running dispute originates from the 1996 civil trial in which Simpson was found liable for the deaths of Nicole Brown Simpson and Ron Goldman, a case distinct from his 1995 criminal trial and acquittal. Despite the passage of nearly 30 years, the estate’s ongoing negotiations and asset liquidation reflect the enduring complexity of this high-profile civil judgment (New York Post, Finurah).

LaVergne has emphasized that while progress has been made, the estate’s remaining assets are limited, and the resolution will likely require careful legal and financial management. Nevertheless, moving toward an agreed-upon settlement is seen as a crucial step toward closure for the Goldman family and final administration of Simpson’s estate (TMZ, Daily Mail).