O.J. Simpson, who died Thursday, was acquitted in 1995 of the murder of his ex-wife Nicole Brown Simpson and her acquaintance Ronald Goldman, but two years later was found liable for their deaths in a civil proceeding.
While the California jury in that civil case entered a $33.5 million US judgment, the Brown and Goldman families’ quest to obtain significant monies from Simpson proved relatively fruitless.
“What people don’t realize about a civil trial — a judgment is a piece of paper, and that is what you get,” Goldman’s father, Fred, said in the Oscar-winning 2016 documentary O.J.: Made in America.
Simpson told a journalist in 2003 that the plaintiffs “don’t deserve one red cent.”
“If it means that I have to sit on my butt, or sit on a golf course, for the rest of my life and not make one extra penny, I’ll do that,” he said.
WATCH l The unique life and times of O.J. Simpson:
O.J. remembered as one of the greatest rises and falls in U.S. history
17 hours ago
Duration 4:56
NFL hall of famer turned Hollywood star O.J. Simpson is dead at 76. His arrest, trial and acquittal for the murder of his ex-wife and her friend captivated the world, changing him from icon to pariah, and is considered one of the greatest rises and falls in American history.
When Simpson decided to participate in a book viewed as highly offensive to many observers — 2007’s If I Did It: Confessions of the Killer — it led to a rare split between the two grieving families.
The Browns opposed the project throughout. After initially being disgusted by the project, Ron Goldman’s father, Fred, successfully pursued the publishing rights on behalf of his family. A federal judge also ruled a company started by Simpson’s oldest daughter, Arnelle, was set up “to perpetuate fraud.”
The public is now likely to get a closer look at Simpson’s finances. Another split between the Browns and Goldmans is possible. After all, two of Simpson’s four surviving children were with Nicole Brown, and it’s not clear what type of relationship Brown’s family have with them.
David Cook, a California attorney who has represented the Goldmans, told Fox Business on Thursday that their fight will continue.
“I’ve been dealing with this problem since 2008,” Cook said. “As to O.J. Simpson here, it’s really simple: it’s called dead without penance. He’s gone, but it’s without penance.”
Here’s how the process may play out.
What’s the probate process?
Whether or not he left behind a will, Simpson’s assets will now almost certainly have to go through what’s known as the probate process in court before his intended heirs can collect on any of them.
Different states have different probate laws. Generally, the case is filed in the state where the person was living when they died — Nevada, in this case. But if significant assets are in California or Florida, where Simpson also lived at various times, separate cases could emerge there.
Denise Brown, a vocal advocate for her sister Nicole Brown Simpson, speaks in Washington, D.C., on Feb. 6, 2007, regarding a private member’s bill concerning peace and nonviolence. (Nancy Ostertag/Getty Images)
Nevada law says an estate must go through the courts if its assets exceed $20,000, or if any real estate is involved, and this must be done within 30 days of the death. If a family fails to file documents, creditors themselves can begin the process.
A stronger claim in death?
Once the case is in court, creditors who say they are owed money can then seek a piece of the assets. The Goldman and Brown families will be on at least equal footing with other creditors, and will probably have an even stronger claim.
Under California law, creditors holding a judgment lien like the plaintiffs in the wrongful death case are deemed to have secured debt, and have priority over creditors with unsecured debt. And they are in a better position to get paid than they were before the defendant’s death.
This file photo combination shows O.J. Simpson’s ex-wife Nicole Brown Simpson, left, and her friend Ron Goldman, both of whom were murdered in Los Angeles on June 12, 1994. (The Associated Press)
Arash Sadat, a Los Angeles attorney who specializes in property disputes, says it is “100 per cent” better for the claimant to have the debtor be deceased and their money in probate.
He said his firm had a jury trial where their clients got a $9 million US jury award that the debtor appealed and delayed endlessly.
“He did everything he could to avoid paying this debt,” Sadat said. “Three or four years later, he died. And within weeks, the estate cuts a check for $12 million. That’s the $9 million plus interest that had accrued over this time.”
The executor or administrator of the estate has much more of an incentive to dispense with debts than the living person does, he said.
But that doesn’t guarantee payment will be forthcoming.
“I do think it’s going to be quite difficult for [the Browns and Goldman] to collect,” attorney Christopher Melcher said. “We don’t know what O.J. has been able to earn over the years.”
Neither Sadat nor Melcher is involved with the Simpson estate or the court case.
What are Simpson’s assets?
Simpson said he lived only on his NFL and private pensions. Hundreds of valuable possessions were seized as part of the jury award, and Simpson eventually auctioned his Heisman Trophy for $230,000.
While Simpson was alive, Goldman recounted in O.J.: Made in America that the pension was “untouchable” by law and that Florida had more difficult laws for the plaintiffs to navigate than California.
“He had a team of people to ensure that any money he could get was going to be protected. They would form some phony company and funnel the money through that,” Goldman alleged.
What about trusts?
There are ways that a person can use trusts established during their life and other methods to make sure their chosen heirs get their assets in death. If such a trust is irrevocable, it can be especially strong.
But transfers of assets to others that are made to avoid creditors can be deemed fraudulent, and claimants like the Goldman and Brown families can file separate civil lawsuits that bring those assets into dispute.
TORONTO – Singles star Leylah Fernandez and doubles specialist Gabriela Dabrowski will anchor Canada’s five-player lineup when the team tries to defend its Billie Jean King Cup title in mid-November.
The 26th-ranked Fernandez, the 2021 U.S. Open finalist from Laval, Que., is the lone Canadian in the top 100 of the WTA Tour’s singles rankings.
Dabrowski, from Ottawa, is ranked fourth on the doubles list. The 2023 U.S. Open women’s doubles champion won mixed doubles bronze with Felix Auger-Aliassime at the recent Paris Olympics.
Marina Stakusic of Mississauga, Ont., returns after a breakout performance last year, capped by her singles win in Canada’s 2-0 victory over Italy in the final. Vancouver’s Rebecca Marino is also back and Bianca Andreescu, the 2019 U.S. Open champion from Mississauga, Ont., returns to the squad for the first time since 2022.
“Winning the Billie Jean King Cup in 2023 was a dream come true for us, and not only that, but I feel like we made a statement to the world about the strength of this nation when it comes to tennis,” Canada captain Heidi El Tabakh said Monday in a release. “Once again, we have a very strong team this year with Bianca joining Leylah, Gaby, Rebecca and Marina, making it an extremely powerful team that is more than capable of going all the way.
“At the end of the day, our goal is to make Canada proud, and we’ll do our best to bring the same level of effort and excitement that we had in last year’s finals.”
Fernandez, who beat Jasmine Paolini to clinch Canada’s first-ever title at the competition, is ranked No. 42 in doubles.
Canada, which received an automatic berth as defending champion, will play the winner of the first-round tie between Great Britain and Germany on Nov. 17 at Malaga’s Martin Carpena Arena.
Australia, Italy and wild-card entry Czechia also received first-round byes. The tournament, which continues through Nov. 20, also includes host Spain, Slovakia, the United States, Poland, Japan and Romania.
Stakusic is up 27 spots to No. 128 in the latest world singles rankings. Marino is at No. 134 and Andreescu, the 2019 U.S. Open champion, is ranked 167th.
Canada will look to become the first team since Czechia in 2016 to successfully defend its Billie Jean King Cup title.
Malaga will also host the Nov. 19-24 Davis Cup Final 8. The Canadian men qualified over the weekend with a 2-1 victory over Great Britain in Manchester.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 16, 2024.
PITTSBURGH – Sidney Crosby plans to remain a Pittsburgh Penguin for at least three more years.
The Penguins announced on Monday that they re-signed the 37-year-old from Cole Harbour, N.S., to a two-year contract extension that has an average annual value of US$8.7 million. The deal runs through the 2026-27 season.
Crosby was eligible to sign an extension on July 1 with him entering the final season of a 12-year, $104.4-million deal that carries an $8.7-million salary cap hit.
At the NHL/NHLPA player media tour in Las Vegas last Monday, he said things were positive and he was optimistic about a deal getting done.
The three-time Stanley Cup champion is coming off a 42-goal, 94-point campaign that saw him finish tied for 12th in the league scoring race.
Crosby has spent all 19 of his NHL seasons in Pittsburgh, amassing 592 goals and 1,004 assists in 1,272 career games.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 16, 2024.
MONTREAL – Tadej Pogacar was so dominant on Sunday, Canada’s Michael Woods called it a race for second.
Pogacar, a three-time Tour de France champion from Slovenia, pedalled to a resounding victory at the Grand Prix Cycliste de Montreal.
The UAE Team Emirates leader crossed the finish line 24 seconds ahead of Spain’s Pello Bilbao of Bahrain — Victorious to win the demanding 209.1-kilometre race on a sunny, 28 C day in Montreal. France’s Julian Alaphilippe of Soudal Quick-Step was third.
“He’s the greatest rider of all time, he’s a formidable opponent,” said Woods, who finished 45 seconds behind the leader in eighth. “If you’re not at your very, very best, then you can forget racing with him, and today was kind of representative of that.
“He’s at such a different level that if you follow him, it can be lights out.”
Pogacar slowed down before the last turn to celebrate with the crowd, high-five fans on Avenue du Parc and cruise past the finish line with his arms in the air after more than five hours on the bike.
The 25-year-old joined Belgium’s Greg Van Avermaet as the only multi-time winners in Montreal after claiming the race in 2022. He also redeemed a seventh-place finish at the Quebec City Grand Prix on Friday.
“I was disappointed, because I had such good legs that I didn’t do better than seventh,” Pogacar said. “To bounce back after seventh to victory here, it’s just an incredible feeling.”
It’s Pogacar’s latest win in a dominant year that includes victories at the Tour de France and Giro d’Italia.
Ottawa’s Woods (Israel Premier-Tech) tied a career-best in front of the home crowd in Montreal, but hoped for more after claiming a stage at the Spanish Vuelta two weeks ago.
“I wanted a better result,” the 37-year-old rider said. “My goal was a podium, but at the same time I’m happy with the performance. In bike racing, you can’t always get the result you want and I felt like I raced really well, I animated the race, I felt like I was up there.”
Pogacar completed the 17 climbs up and down Mount Royal near downtown in five hours 28 minutes 15 seconds.
He made his move with 23.3 kilometres to go, leaving the peloton in his dust as he pedalled into the lead — one he never relinquished.
Bilbao, Alaphilippe, Alex Aranburu (Movistar Team) and Bart Lemmen (Visma–Lease) chased in a group behind him, with Bilbao ultimately separating himself from the pack. But he never came close to catching Pogacar, who built a 35-second lead with one lap left to go.
“It was still a really hard race today, but the team was on point,” Pogacar said. “We did really how we planned, and the race situation was good for us. We make it hard in the last final laps, and they set me up for a (takeover) two laps to go, and it was all perfect.”
Ottawa’s Derek Gee, who placed ninth in this year’s Tour de France, finished 48th in Montreal, and called it a “hard day” in the heat.
“I think everyone knows when you see Tadej on the start line that it’s just going to be full gas,” Gee said.
Israel Premier-Tech teammate Hugo Houle of Sainte-Perpétue, Que., was 51st.
Houle said he heard Pogacar inform his teammates on the radio that he was ready to attack with two laps left in the race.
“I said then, well, clearly it’s over for me,” Houle said. “You see, cycling isn’t that complicated.”
Australia’s Michael Matthews won the Quebec City GP for a record third time on Friday, but did not finish in Montreal. The two races are the only North American events on the UCI World Tour.
Michael Leonard of Oakville, Ont., and Gil Gelders and Dries De Bondt of Belgium broke away from the peloton during the second lap. Leonard led the majority of the race before losing pace with 45 kilometres to go.
Only 89 of 169 riders from 24 teams — including the Canadian national team — completed the gruelling race that features 4,573 metres in total altitude.
Next up, the riders will head to the world championships in Zurich, Switzerland from Sept. 21 to 29.
Pogacar will try to join Eddy Merckx (1974) and Stephen Roche (1987) as the only men to win three major titles in a season — known as the Triple Crown.
“Today gave me a lot of confidence, motivation,” Pogacar said. “I think we are ready for world championships.”
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 15, 2024.
