In a notable reversal, Malcolm LaVergne, the attorney managing OJ Simpson’s estate, has shifted his stance regarding the disbursement of funds to the families of Nicole Brown and Ron Goldman. This change follows LaVergne’s initially harsh comments that expressed a determination to prevent any payout from the estate to the Goldman family.
Last week, LaVergne was quoted stating his hope that “the Goldmans get zero, nothing,” and affirmed his intention to do everything within his power to ensure that outcome. However, in a recent discussion with the Hollywood Reporter, he amended his previous assertions, clarifying that Fred Goldman’s claim against Simpson’s estate would be recognized and handled in accordance with Nevada law.
This backtrack appears to stem from LaVergne’s emotional response to comments made by the Goldman family’s lawyer shortly after Simpson’s death, which LaVergne found to be disrespectful. His initial reaction was one of defiance, aimed not directly at Fred Goldman, but at the legal representatives stirring animosity posthumously.
Simpson, who passed away from cancer at the age of 76, had been a controversial figure, accused of the murders of his ex-wife Nicole Brown Simpson and her friend Ron Goldman in 1994. Although acquitted in the criminal murder trial, Simpson was found liable for their deaths in a 1997 civil case and was ordered to pay $33.5 million to the Goldman family—a sum that remains largely unsettled.
LaVergne’s recent statements indicate a more measured approach moving forward, respecting legal processes and the rights of the claimants, which marks a significant tempering of his earlier, more contentious remarks.