More than three decades after the tragic 1994 deaths of Nicole Brown Simpson and her friend Ron Goldman, the estate of O.J. Simpson has officially accepted a claim of nearly $58 million from Ron Goldman’s father, Fred Goldman — a long-standing demand rooted in the civil court’s finding that Simpson was liable for Goldman’s wrongful death.
The agreement, filed in Clark County, Nevada, acknowledges a creditor claim of $57,997,858.12 plus interest. Originally, Fred Goldman sought more than $117 million, but the estate’s executor, Malcolm LaVergne, said the interest calculations underlying that claim were “not as accurate as possible.”
A Long Fight for Justice
In 1997, a civil jury held Simpson liable in the wrongful-death lawsuit and awarded Goldman’s family $33.5 million. Over the years, due to accumulating interest, the amount ballooned — and the Goldman family repeatedly pressed for payment. But Simpson paid very little of the judgment during his lifetime.
Simpson died in April 2024 of prostate cancer. His estate, now in probate, has limited accessible assets: LaVergne has stated he hopes to gather between $500,000 and $1 million for distribution.
What the Settlement Means
Importantly, accepting the claim does not guarantee that Fred Goldman will receive the full $58 million. As LaVergne put it, “it won’t be $58 million plus interest, but it will be a voluntary payment.” The estate plans to raise funds through auctions of Simpson’s belongings, including memorabilia, and is working to recover items reportedly stolen.
LaVergne has also committed to recalculating interest “based on the variable rate nature of the Nevada judgment interest computation” in consultation with Goldman’s legal team.
Goldman Family Reacts
Fred Goldman’s attorney, Michaelle Rafferty, described the estate’s acceptance of the claim as “a positive acknowledgment of the debt.” However, she added that “it does not constitute payment” yet — the claim must still be processed through the probate process.
For Goldman, the issue has always been about more than money. In past statements, he has emphasized that he seeks “holding Simpson responsible,” not simply financial restitution.
A Legacy Still Unsettled
Despite Simpson’s death and the acceptance of the claim, the Goldman family may still recover only a fraction of what was originally awarded. The limited size of the estate and the long legal road ahead mean the full judgment — with decades of added interest — may never be paid in full.
Still, for Fred Goldman and his family, this development marks a significant step in their decades-long pursuit of accountability.
