OJ Simpson has responded to a suit filed by Fred Goldman, claiming he’s dragged into court every time the families of Ron and Nicole merely ‘hear a rumor’ he’s making money, according to papers obtained by DailyMail.com.
The former athlete filed his papers to a Los Angeles court on January 17, saying his attempts to simply ‘readjust to civilian life and family life’ had been ‘shattered’ by Goldman.
Simpson says that there only needs to be ‘a mere vague allegation involving Mr. Simpson’s commercial exploitation of himself’ and he receives the court summons.
In November, Goldman attempted to stop the disgraced athlete from avoiding paying out the millions of dollars he owes from his son Ron’s wrongful death payout.
Simpson was famously acquitted of the double murder of Nicole and Ron in 1995, but a civil court jury in 1997 found Simpson liable for their deaths and ordered him to pay $33.5 million in damages to their families.
Goldman’s lawyers claim that the total amount of damages Simpson is on the hook for has ballooned due to $71 million, as they believe the 70-year-old is living the high life in Las Vegas.
OJ Simpson has responded to a lawsuit from Fred Goldman, who is attempting to stop the disgraced athlete from avoiding paying the millions of dollars he owes from his son’s wrongful death payout. Pictured: Simpson playing golf at his home in Las Vegas in October
Simpson was acquitted of the murder of Nicole Brown Simpson and Ron Goldman (right), but was ordered to pay $33.5m in damages to their families. Ever since, lawyers have been chasing Simpson’s money. Pictured: Simpson’s mugshot in 1994 (left)
In his response, Simpson concedes that there has been discussions about the potential of a future deal, but nothing has been finalized.
But he argues that Goldman’s repeated filings ‘are intent on shattering’ his return to civilian life and any attempts to earn a living.
‘If Mr. Simpson is consistently forced to respond to discovery every two weeks, he will be left with no time to earn a living,’ states the response.
Simpson’s attorney notes that his client did take part in a brief autograph session shortly after his release from prison, but said that the money was used to pay off some of his legal debt to another attorney.
OJ ‘has no continuing or future interest in signing memorabilia’, he added.
Enforcement lawyer David Cook, who represents Ron’s father Fred Goldman, has been unsuccessfully trying to access the former star’s assets for years. Cook told CBS San Francisco the amount has swelled to $71 million due to interest.
Goldman said in November that he is worried that Simpson has been keeping cash from appearances and could be selling memorabilia.
And while he is attempting to collect the debt Simpson owes, the former NFL player has been living a life of luxury in Las Vegas – partying and playing golf.
Cook previously told DailyMailTV in September that Simpson would want to monetize his name once he was released from prison and would most likely create what’s known as a loan-out corporation to which he can transfer his intellectual property rights.
He said the loan-out would receive any money Simpson gets through media or business deals and will be difficult to find.
‘It’s a matter of getting a bee-line of what projects he has in the future and attempt to intercept the money before he gets it,’ said Cook.
Cook, of Cook Collection Attorneys in San Francisco, has been an enforcement lawyer for 43 years. He says he’s in ‘good health’ and is happy to ‘grow old’ chasing Simpson’s money.
Goldman’s lawyers believe Simpson is living the high life in Las Vegas while avoiding paying out the money he owes. Pictured: Fred Goldman and his sister Kim in 2008
OJ Simpson has been keeping an active life since his release from prison in early October- which included an autograph session he made money from in October
‘My message to OJ is real easy, pay the judgment, grow up, you went to trial you lost, admit your guilt and start paying this thing. He’s in absolute denial and that’s got to end.’
He added: ‘When OJ Simpson was riding in that White Bronco he tossed his soul out the window, this man is completely without a soul.’
In court documents filed in November, Goldman says the first hearing date of July 3, 2018 is too far away and that Simpson in the meantime ‘could flood the market with sports memorabilia’ and try to keep all the money for himself.
Simpson responded in his own filing referencing an autograph session he held back in October and saying it was a one time gig that was helping him ‘readjust to civilian life.’
Simpson says he has had a lot of opportunities to make money but has rejected all of them with the exception of the autograph session.
Goldman filed documents to divert any money Simpson made from any interviews, shows, presentations or exhibitions to help pay the $71 million wrongful death judgment he owes.
If he were to take cash – for example, from signing autographs – but not declare it, he would violate federal law and his parole. He could then end up back in jail.
The Goldman family launched a legal bid to relieve Simpson of any money he makes from giving interviews following his release, DailyMail.com revealed in October.
Lawyers for the Goldman family previously told DailyMailTV that the total amount of damages Simpson is on the hook for has ballooned, currently around $71 million due to interest on the original amount
Lawyers acting for the Goldmans previously filed a motion in Santa Monica, California demanding the former NFL star disclose any attempts ‘to monetize himself’.
Court papers seen by DailyMail.com in October show the Goldman family is ‘concerned that Mr. Simpson or others on his behalf are shopping a potential entertainment, interview, or similar platform through the media’.
While OJ’s attorneys have denied the claims, Goldman’s family said: ‘We take issue with this statement. Our prior experience with Mr Simpson over many years indicates the contrary, that in fact he or his advisors, agents, attorneys, family members, or surrogates, are ‘shopping’ one or more entertainment, documentary, reality TV, or interview vehicles at this time.’
The legal filing adds: ‘Such an asset would be subject to enforcement, which would include any revenues arising therefrom or any asset constituting a business opportunity or the like.’
Simpson’s attorney said: ‘Mr Simpson has no desire to conduct any interviews with the media, and certainly has no desire to solicit an interview for monetary gain’.