OJ Simpson owes the families of his murdered ex-wife and her lover more than $30 million. But they shouldn’t get anything from his inheritance either. The will specifically provides for a penalty against lawsuits.
Even though OJ Simpson celebrated success as an athlete and actor, he became world famous when his ex-wife Nicole Brown Simpson and her lover Ron Goldman were bloodily murdered – and OJ was acquitted in a spectacular trial. However, a civil court ultimately sentenced him to pay millions in damages. According to the will of Simpson, who died last week, they should remain empty-handed even after his death.
His executor Malcolm LaVergne made this clear. Goldman’s family in particular should not receive a share of Simpson’s fortune. “I hope they don’t get a dime, nothing,” LaVergne told the Las Vegas Review Journal. “You specifically. And I will do everything in my power to make sure they really don’t get anything.”
“I was amazed”
The will, drawn on January 25th, was filed in a court in his hometown of Las Vegas on Friday, one day after Simpson’s death. It names the four children of Simpson, who is no longer married, as heirs, but orders his property to be transferred to a foundation until the exact value has been determined. It also explicitly names LaVergne as the estate administrator.
He was surprised by it himself. “I was amazed that he appointed me,” he told the Las Vegas Review Journal. “But I will take it very seriously.” LaVergne is not actually an inheritance lawyer, but had represented Simpson in various proceedings since 2009.
OJ Simpson’s controversial legacy
Exactly how much money is involved now needs to be determined. Nevada inheritance law requires that all assets owned by the deceased and their value be determined before the heirs or creditors can access them. He is now preparing that, explained LaVergne. “I can’t yet say how much the inheritance will ultimately be worth,” he told the Journal.
But he doesn’t see any room for compensation payments. “These people will notice very quickly that there is a hierarchy to be followed,” the lawyer told the local station “KNTV”. “These publicity creditors – because that’s what they are to me – have to line up behind the real creditors.”
In addition to “significant” tax debts, Simpson also owed large sums of money to other “real creditors,” LaVergne said. “But of course they are free to assert their claims in court like all other creditors,” he explained about the claims for damages.
Millions in debt
Although Simpson was acquitted of murdering his ex-wife and her lover in a trial that was televised around the world, a civil trial ultimately found him responsible for their deaths and ordered him to pay $33.5 million to the families of those killed.
However, Simpson never paid these damages. In LaVergne’s opinion, the victims’ families are not entitled to the money either. There has never been a corresponding court decision that explicitly requires Simpson to pay, he claims to the Journal.
Goldman’s family in particular sees it differently. Her lawyer David Cook confirmed to People that this decision had been made and was even confirmed again in 2022. Including interest, Simpson now owes the family over $100 million. According to the New York Post, only $113,000 has been paid out since 1997.
Bizarre clause
Simpson apparently wanted to exclude the expected legal disputes over his inheritance with a special clause in his will. If anyone disputes his share of the inheritance, the will states, that person should only receive one dollar instead of the intended share of the inheritance.
The clause, which seems unusual in this country, is quite common in the USA; Simpson’s will uses a standard formulation of the so-called “In Terrorem Clause”. Whether it prevents compensation payments is another matter: If someone sues against the will and it is declared invalid, the clause is also invalid. Since the victim families are not mentioned in the will, they have nothing to lose anyway.
However, Simpson will probably not get the wish explicitly formulated in the clause fulfilled. “I want this will to be implemented without any legal dispute or dispute,” his last will and testament reads. That is unlikely to stop the victims’ families from filing a lawsuit.
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Source: Stern
I am an author and journalist who has worked in the entertainment industry for over a decade. I currently work as a news editor at a major news website, and my focus is on covering the latest trends in entertainment. I also write occasional pieces for other outlets, and have authored two books about the entertainment industry.
