The former NFL star OJ Simpson died last Wednesday night at the age of 76 after a private battle with prostate cancer.
Now, the executor of Simpson’s will is speaking out to say that he’ll “do everything” he can to make sure that the Goldman family gets “zero, nothing” from his estate. Simpson was acquitted in a murder trial in the death of Ronald Goldman and Simpson’s ex wife, Nicole Brown.
Simpson’s Executor Sounds Off
A legal document obtained by People Magazine shows that Simpson’s longtime lawyer Malcolm LaVergne was named as the executor of his estate. His successor is Justin Simpson, the son that the former NFL star shared with Brown. LaVergne, who has represented Simpson since 2009, made it clear that he plans to do everything in his power to stop the payout of a $33.5 million judgment awarded to the families of both Brown and Goldman.
“It’s my hope that the Goldmans get zero, nothing,” LaVergne told the Las Vegas Review Journal. “Them specifically. And I will do everything in my capacity as the executor or personal representative to try and ensure that they get nothing.”
LaVergne said that these families have been fighting for a payout for years. There was never a court order forcing Simpson to pay out the civil judgment. He’s particularly bitter towards the Goldman family over the handling of Simpson’s controversial planned book, titled “If I Did It.” They managed to win control of the manuscript and retitled the book “If I Did It: Confessions of the Killer.” Much to Simpson and LaVergne’s dismay.
LaVergne added that he was shocked to find out that Simpson had named him as executor of his will.
“I am flummoxed as to why he would name me as the personal representative or the executor, but he did,” he said. “And it’s something I’m going to take very seriously.”
Related: OJ Simpson Dead At 76
Goldman Family Fires Back
David Cook, a lawyer representing the Goldman family, fired back by saying that Simpson owes them $114 million. That figure has grown over the years due to interest. Cook also said that they have not seen a penny of the $33.5 million that they were awarded in the1997 wrongful death lawsuit.
“He died without penance,” Cook told People of Simpson. “He did not want to give a dime, a nickel to Fred [Goldman], never, anything, never. He [still] owes on the current status of the judgment.”
Cook revealed the Goldman family is looking at hiring attorneys in Nevada, Florida and California to “determine what can be done.” The first thing they need to do is figure out both how much money Simpson left behind. Then they need to know where exactly it is set to go.
“We need to get a lawyer or a number of lawyers who deal with this, very smart people to determine who it is or who it would be, and [start] taking depositions from people and/or finding out who they are and what information we need,” he explained. “It’s a big deal.”
Related: Caitlyn Jenner, Ronald Goldman’s Father, And More React To OJ Simpson’s Death
Goldman’s Father Speaks Out
After Simpson’s death, Goldman’s father Fred said that his passing is a “reminder” of the loss of his son.
“This is just a reminder for us of how long Ron has been gone, how long we have missed him and nothing more than that,” he said. “That is the only thing that is important today. It is the pain from then until now. There is nothing today that is more important than the loss of my son and the loss of Nicole. Nothing is more important than that.”
Though Simpson was found not guilty of the 1994 murders of Brown and Goldman, polls show the vast majority of Americans believe he committed the killings.