The “Trial of the Century” ignited a media firestorm in 1994.
People are still enamored by the The “Trial of the Century” that took place over two decades ago, in 1994. The trial, centering around the (now infamous) football player, O.J. Simpson, brought him into the limelight, albeit away from the roaring crowds and cheering fans. His trial over the murders of his ex-wife, Nicole Brown Simpson, and her friend, Ron Goldman, a then 25-year-old waiter, would take eight months.
The trial captivated everyone’s attention.
No matter what the verdict, the trial sullied O.J.’s reputation and lifestyle: many were already convinced of his guilt even before the trial wrapped up. His subsequent arrests in the late 2010’s didn’t help.
The 1994 trial would be considered “viral” if it was taking place today: it captivated everyone’s attention, the media was obsessed with it, the trial was splashed across every news outlet, and everyone was fascinated by how the trial would play out.
O.J. Simpson was eventually acquitted of the murder charge. That, is an entirely other story on it’s own.
Undeterred by the “not guilty” verdict in the criminal court case, the Goldman family pressed for a civil case against the former footballer. In 1997, just a few years after his “not guilty” verdict from the criminal trial, a civil court handed down a guilty verdict. O.J. was ordered to pay the Goldman family $33.5 million in damages for the death of Ron Goldman.
The family hasn’t seen a penny of that money. The reason they haven’t been paid for decades? Perhaps it’s because that any payment to the Goldman family would be an admission of guilt, but, strangely enough, the NFL player who once lived an lavish lifestyle claimed that he couldn’t afford to pay the Goldmans.
Simpson died in April of 2024 of cancer, and the Goldman family has continued to fight his estate for the amount the civil court awarded them decades ago (although now with $100 million tacked on for interest!) O.J. Simpson’s death has reignited the media’s interest in the late football star’s estate.
Malcolm LaVergne, O.J.’s longtime lawyer and estate executor, boldly declared that the Goldman’s weren’t going to get “a penny of the (late) football star’s estate.” LaVergne had seemingly been publicly sparring with the Goldman family, shortly claiming after O.J’s death, that: “his hope was that the Goldmans get zero, nothing.”
The lawyer soon backtracked on his (rather harsh) words, claiming, “that the Goldman’s claim will be accepted.” LaVergne insisted that his initial damming words were not meant for the family, but rather for the attorneys representing the family. In other words, according to him, LaVergne wasn’t really battling it out with the Goldmans, he was duking it out with their attorneys.
Either way, it may not have been a good look, because LaVergne soon backtracked.
LaVergne agreed to the Goldman’s request for payment “in accordance with Nevada law.”
As for the rest of O.J.’s estate, it appears that it was put into Trust.
It looks like the “Trial of the Century” will come to an end, with the Goldman family finally finding peace.