O.J. Simpson’s estate has reached a significant settlement regarding a longstanding creditor claim. The estate has accepted a claim for $57,997,858.12 from Fred Goldman, the father of Ron Goldman, who was killed alongside Nicole Brown Simpson in 1994. This acceptance marks a pivotal moment in the ongoing legal battles stemming from a wrongful death lawsuit filed by the Goldmans.
Details of the Settlement
Malcolm LaVergne, the executor of the estate, submitted court documents detailing the agreement earlier this week. This amount will include judgment interest, although there was contention over the correct calculation of this interest. Fred Goldman originally sought over $117 million, but both parties negotiated down to the accepted figure.
Future Payments and Obligations
- The estate plans to fulfill as much of the $57 million claim as possible by auctioning off assets.
- LaVergne indicated that some estate items have been stolen, complicating the auction process.
- He intends to recover stolen items with the help of legal counsel.
Additionally, LaVergne intends to request a fee to compensate Goldman for administrative costs related to the estate’s management. This suggests an evolving cooperation between the estate and Goldman, contrasting prior hostilities.
Prioritizing Claims
Aside from Goldman’s claim, LaVergne has declined the majority of creditor claims, accepting only those from the IRS and Goldman. He emphasized that repaying the IRS is a priority, suggesting that the estate will need to address a separate claim of approximately $636,945 from the State of California through litigation.
A Brief Background on the Goldmans vs. Simpson
O.J. Simpson was acquitted of the murders of Nicole Brown Simpson and Ron Goldman in a notorious trial in 1995. Subsequently, the Goldmans pursued Simpson in civil court, resulting in a judgment of over $33 million. However, Simpson only managed to pay a small fraction of that amount.
Following O.J. Simpson’s death last year, initial statements from LaVergne indicated a reluctance to compensate the Goldmans. However, this recent development represents a significant shift in attitude regarding the settlement of the claim.
