O.J. Simpson: Executor of estate walks back ‘zero’ money comments about Goldman family
Simpson estate: File photo. Attorney Malcolm LaVergne, left, who has represented O.J. Simpson since 2009, was appointed executor of the late athlete's estate last week. (Jason Bean-Pool/Getty Images)
By Bob D'Angelo, Cox Media Group National Content Desk
The attorney who is executor of the estate of O.J. Simpson is walking back comments he made about withholding any money to the Goldman family, who won a civil judgment against the Pro Football Hall of Famer.
Malcolm LaVergne told The Hollywood Reporter that he would ensure that any claim made by the parents of Ron Goldman to recover the millions they are owed from the 1997 lawsuit will be accepted by Simpson’s estate. The $33.5 million judgment has nearly tripled over the years due to interest owed, David Cook, who represents the Goldman family, told the Los Angeles Times. Due to interest, the original debt has grown to more than $114 million.
Simpson, 76, died on Wednesday of prostate cancer, and his family announced his death the next day. His will was filed Friday in a Clark County court in Nevada. LaVergne was named the executor of the estate, while Simpson’s son, Justin Simpson, was named as “successor personal representative,” CNN reported.
LaVergne originally told the Las Vegas Review-Journal in a telephone interview that he would fight to prevent the payout of the $33.5 million judgment, telling the newspaper that it was his hope “that the Goldmans get zero, nothing.”
LaVergne had a different tone on Monday.
“I can tell you in advance, Fred Goldman’s claim will be accepted. And his claim will be handled in accordance with Nevada law,” LaVergne told The Hollywood Reporter.
LaVergne said his original comments referred to a debt collection lawyer working with the Goldman family, NBC News reported.
“Within an hour of knowing that O.J. died, he started talking (expletive). My advocate instinct was, ‘Oh, you’re gonna keep (expletive) on him even after he’s dead?’”
“‘Fine, you know? You get nothing.’ And so, those were my remarks then. But I backtracked, and they were pretty harsh remarks. And now I’m going in the other direction.”
O.J. Simpson had been charged with the murders of his ex-wife, Nicole Brown Simpson, and her friend, Ronald Goldman who were found dead on June 12, 1994. The former movie star and advertising pitchman was acquitted of both murders in 1995 but was later found liable for their deaths in a civil lawsuit, according to The New York Times.
According to court filings, O.J. Simpson’s will places all of his property into a trust, the Review-Journal reported. The document states that Simpson’s property was placed into The Orenthal Simpson Revocable Living Trust, which was created on Jan. 25, 2024, according to KNTV. The document was filed by Casady Law Offices in Las Vegas, according to the television station.
LaVergne said that he plans to be “hyper transparent” with the families of Brown Simpson and Goldman, according to The Hollywood Reporter.
“I’m going to show my homework before I even have to give it to the courts and see what we can do in terms of getting this estate in order,” he said.
Through the years O. J. Simpson Running Back USC 1968 (Photo by Sporting News via Getty Images/Sporting News via Getty Images via Getty Images) (Sporting News Archive/Sporting News via Getty Images)
Through the years LOS ANGELES - 1968: University of Southern California's running back O.J. Simpson puts on his jacket at the track of USC in 1968 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Focus on Sport via Getty Images) (Focus On Sport/Focus on Sport via Getty Images)
Through the years O.J. Simpson, University of Southern California football star. (Bettmann/Bettmann Archive)
Through the years USC Trojans running back O.J. Simpson (32), inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame class of 1985 and 1968 Heisman Trophy winner. (Photo by University of Southern California/WireImage) (University of Southern Californi/WireImage)
Through the years USC Trojans running back O.J. Simpson accepts the Heisman Trophy on December 5, 1968, at the Downtown Athletic Club in Manhattan, New York. (Photo by University of Southern California/WireImage) (University of Southern Californi/WireImage)
Through the years Buffalo Bills' running back O.J. Simpson #32 poses for a portrait circa early 1970's. (Photo by Focus on Sport via Getty Images) (Focus On Sport/Focus on Sport via Getty Images)
Through the years NEW YORK, NY - NOVEMBER 12: O.J. Simpson, Close up, during an NFL football game between the Buffalo Bills and New York Jets at Shea Stadium, November 12, 1972. Simpson ran the football for 89 yards on 20 carries during the game. The N.J. Jets defeated Buffalo, 41.3. (Photo by Ross Lewis/Getty Images). (Ross Lewis/Ross Lewis)
Through the years Unspecified: (L-R) Marguerite Simpson, OJ Simpson, Jason Simpson, Arnelle Simpson at home. (Photo by Disney General Entertainment Content via Getty Images) (Walt Disney Television Photo Arc/Disney General Entertainment Con)
Through the years LOS ANGELES, CA - JANUARY 8: NFL star O.J. Simspson poses for a portrait at home on January 8, 1973 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images) (Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images)
Through the years 1974: NFL player and actor O.J. Simpson in a publicity still for Warner Bros Inc. "The Towering Inferno" released in 1974. (Photo by Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images) (Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images)
Through the years ROOTS - Sunday, Jan. 23-Sunday. Jan. 30, 1977, The 12-hour Walt Disney Television via Getty Images Novel for Television "Roots", which aired for eight consecutive nights, remains one of TV's landmark programs. Based on Alex Haley's best-selling novel, "Roots" followed 100 tumultuous years and several generations of the author's African ancestors. (Photo by ABC Photo Archives/Disney General Entertainment Content via Getty Images) (ABC Photo Archives/Disney General Entertainment Con)
Through the years 1983: OJ Simpson in the sports booth appearing on ABC Sports. (Photo by Disney General Entertainment Content via Getty Images) (Walt Disney Television Photo Arc/Disney General Entertainment Con)
Through the years LOS ANGELES, CA - 1984: Nicole Brown and O.J. Simpson attend a function circa 1984 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images) (Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images)
Through the years LOS ANGELES - MARCH 16: O.J. Simpson, Nicole Brown Simpson, Jason Simpson, Sydney Brooke Simpson, Justin Ryan Simpson pose at the premiere of the "Naked Gun 33 1/3: The Final Isult" in which O.J. starred on March 16, 1994 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Vinnie Zuffante/Getty Images) (Vinnie Zuffante/Getty Images)
Through the years In this handout, American football running back, broadcaster, actor, and advertising spokesman OJ Simpson in a mug shot following his arrest in Los Angeles, California, US, 17th June 1994. (Photo by Kypros/Getty Images) (Kypros/Getty Images)
Through the years American lawyer Robert Shapiro defends O.J. Simpson from the charges that he murdered his ex-wife Nicole Brown and Ronald Goldman (Photo by Ted Soqui/Sygma via Getty Images) (Ted Soqui/Sygma via Getty Images)
Through the years LOS ANGELES, CA - JUNE 21: O.J. Simpson shows the jury a new pair of Aris extra-large gloves, similar to the gloves found at the Bundy and Rockingham crime scene 21 June 1995, during his double murder trial in Los Angeles,CA. Deputy Sheriff Roland Jex(L) and Prosecutor Christopher Darden (R) look on. (Photo credit should read VINCE BUCCI/AFP via Getty Images) (VINCE BUCCI/AFP via Getty Images)
Through the years Former NFL star O.J. Simpson talks with one of his defense attorneys on the first day of jury selection October 9, 2001 at a Dade County courtroom in Miami, FL. Simpson, who was acquitted in 1994 in the murders of his ex-wife and her friend, is on trial for allegedly attacking a motorist in the Miami suburb of Kendall, Florida in December of 2000. If found guilty, Simpson could face up to 16 years in prison. (Pool Photo/Getty Images) (Getty Images/Getty Images)
Through the years LAS VEGAS - SEPTEMBER 19: O.J. Simpson appears in court on charges which include kidnapping, assault and burglary at the Clark County Regional Justice Center September 19, 2007 in Las Vegas, Nevada. Bail for Simpson's release was set at USD 125,000, and the judge ruled that Simpson must surrender his passport. (Photo by Jae C. Hong-Pool/Getty Images) (Pool/Getty Images)
Through the years LAS VEGAS, NV - MAY 15: O.J. Simpson testifies during an evidentiary hearing in Clark County District Court May 15, 2013 in Las Vegas, Nevada. Simpson, who is currently serving a nine to 33-year sentence in state prison as a result of his October 2008 conviction for armed robbery and kidnapping charges, is using a writ of habeas corpus to seek a new trial, claiming he had such bad representation that his conviction should be reversed. (Photo by Jeff Scheid - Pool/Getty Images) (Pool/Getty Images)
Through the years LOVELOCK, NV - JULY 20: O.J. Simpson attends his parole hearing at Lovelock Correctional Center July 20, 2017 in Lovelock, Nevada. Simpson is serving a nine to 33 year prison term for a 2007 armed robbery and kidnapping conviction. (Photo by Jason Bean-Pool/Getty Images) (Pool/Getty Images)
Through the years LOVELOCK, NEVADA - SEPTEMBER 30: In this handout photo provided by the Nevada Department of Corrections, O.J. Simpson signs paperwork before his release from Lovelock Correctional Center September 30, 2017 in Lovelock, Nevada. Simpson had served nine years for armed robbery, kidnapping, and other charges. (Photo by Brooke Keast/Nevada Department of Corrections via Getty Images) (Handout/Getty Images)