The OJ Simpson trial can be a confusing one– acquitted in one trial and guilty in another. The confusion highlights the difference between a criminal case (the one he was found not guilty in) and a civil wrongful death case (the one he was found guilty in). Having a civil wrongful death case in addition to a criminal case is not uncommon when it was a crime that caused the death. The multi-million dollar wrongful death verdict awarded to the Goldman and Brown families over twenty years ago has gone largely unpaid due to Simpson’s lack of money, his many protected assets and his recent 9 year stint in jail on unrelated charges.

Now that Simpson has been released, the collection hunt is back on. CNN reports on the efforts of the Goldman family attorney and the staggering amount of money at stake that has only increased over time, “Simpson was acquitted in 1995 of their murders but was ordered to pay $33.5 Million after losing the wrongful death suits in 1997. That figure increased twofold because of interest.”

So what can the Goldman and Brown families attempt to collect in this high-profile scenario and what is off- limits? Here’s a look at some of his known current and former assets:

• NFL Pension: off-limits
• Homes: off-limits
• Book: In a clever play, the Goldman’s got the publishing rights to what became a New York Times bestselling book, If I Did It. They are currently collecting the income from this book.
• Other Income: Other income is up for grabs when it comes to Simpson but the difficult part about this is that Simpson has announced on multiple occasions that he has no plans to work but seeks retirement out in Florida.

And so OJ Simpson continues to teach us a lot of things about wrongful death lawsuits, including the difficulty at times of collecting a money judgement. A large settlement is one thing, a collectible one is an entirely different thing. At Walch Law, we not only help to get you an amount that reflects your loss but also work hard to help make sure you get paid too. If you are dealing with a wrongful death and want to learn more about how we can help, fill out our contact us form to set up your free consultation with us.