Jennifer Kay, The Associated Press, June 15, 2007
MIAMI – A federal bankruptcy judge Friday awarded Ron Goldman’s family the rights to O.J. Simpson’s canceled book, “If I Did It,” which the Goldmans want to rename “Confessions of a Double Murderer.”
Goldman was slain along with Simpson’s ex-wife Nicole Brown Simpson in 1994. The Goldmans want the book’s proceeds included as part of a nearly $33.5 million civil jury award they have been trying to collect for almost a decade.
The ruling “ensures that Mr. Simpson will never see another dime from this book,” said Paul Battista, an attorney for the Goldman family.
U.S. Bankruptcy Judge A. Jay Cristol ruled that Lorraine Brooke Associates, which owned the rights to the book, can be considered as belonging to the former football star. The company is run by Simpson’s daughter, Arnelle.
O.J. Simpson’s book contract with HarperCollins, and a money trail showing $630,000 transferred from the publisher to LBA and then to Simpson for his expenses, confirm his connection to the company, Cristol said.
LBA was “clearly accomplished to perpetuate a fraud,” Cristol said.
Kendrick Whittle, the attorney for Simpson’s daughter, said he had not decided yet if he would appeal. Arnelle Simpson attended the hearing but did not speak with reporters afterward.
Whittle said Cristol’s ruling set a “scary” precedent: “What if she opens another business tomorrow? Are the Goldmans allowed to pursue that, too? Where do they stop?”