O.J. Simpson Dies at 76, Leaving Multimillion-Dollar Debt to Victims' Families

O.J. Simpson, the former NFL player acquitted of murdering his ex-wife Nicole Brown Simpson and her friend Ronald Goldman in 1995, died on April 10, 2024, in Las Vegas at the age of 76 after battling prostate cancer. Simpson's estate will be left to his four children, but he still owed over $100 million to the families of the victims from a 1997 civil liability case in which he was found responsible for their deaths.

In the civil trial, a jury awarded the Goldman and Brown families $33.5 million in damages. However, court documents filed in 2022 revealed that the families had only received roughly $132,000 of the amount owed. With interest accruing over the years, Simpson's debt to the families climbed to more than $100 million at the time of his death.

Simpson's longtime attorney Malcolm LaVergne, who is serving as the executor of his estate, initially stated that he hoped the Goldmans would get "zero, nothing" from the estate. LaVergne later softened his comments, saying that the Goldmans' claim will be accepted and handled in accordance with Nevada law during the probate process.

Why this matters: The death of O.J. Simpson, a controversial figure who was at the center of one of the most high-profile murder trials in American history, reignites the debate surrounding the civil liability judgment against him. The case highlights the challenges faced by victims' families in collecting awarded damages and raises questions about the effectiveness of the justice system in holding individuals accountable for their actions.

Fred Goldman, Ron Goldman's father, has been determined to collect the full amount owed to his family for decades. David Cook, the debt collection attorney representing the Goldmans, stated that they are "just starting" to figure out how to collect from Simpson's estate. The path to full compensation for the Goldman and Brown families is complicated by the complexities surrounding Simpson's estate and the unknown extent of his assets.

Simpson's will names his four children as beneficiaries and discourages any challenges to the estate. As secured creditors with a judgment lien, the Goldman and Brown families will be paid prior to unsecured creditors. The attorneys at Lord Lindley, who have significant experience in prosecuting and collecting judgments, are available to assist with matters regarding trusts and estates in this case.

Key Takeaways

• O.J. Simpson died in 2024 at 76 from prostate cancer.
• Simpson owed over $100M to victims' families from 1997 civil case.
• Families received only $132K of $33.5M judgment, with interest accruing.
• Simpson's estate will go to his 4 children, complicating victim payouts.
• Victim families' attorneys aim to collect full judgment from Simpson's estate.