Posted on 06/15/2007 6:08:22 PM PDT by SmithL
MIAMI (AP) - A federal bankruptcy judge Friday awarded Ron Goldman's family the rights to O.J. Simpson's cancelled book, "If I Did It," ruling that Simpson tried to hide his profits.
Goldman was slain along with Simpson's ex-wife Nicole Brown Simpson. The Goldmans want the book's proceeds included as part of a nearly US$33.5 million civil jury award they have been trying to collect from Simpson for almost a decade. Simpson was acquitted of criminal charges in 1995 following a highly publicized murder trial.
The Goldmans want to rename the book "Confessions of a Double Murder."
The company that currently owns the book's rights is a shell for the former football star, U.S. Bankruptcy Judge Jay Cristol ruled. Lorraine Brooke Associates is run by Simpson's daughter, Arnelle.
O.J. Simpson's book contract with Harper Collins, and a money trail showing $630,000 transferred from the publisher to Lorraine Brooke Associates and then to Simpson for his expenses, confirm his connection to the company, Cristol said.
Lorraine Brooke Associates was "clearly accomplished to perpetuate a fraud," Cristol said.
The ruling "ensures that Mr. Simpson will never see another dime from this book," said Paul Battista, a lawyer for the Goldman family.
Kendrick Whittle, the lawyer for Simpson's daughter, said he had not decided yet if he would appeal.
Simpson's daughter attended the hearing but did not testify or speak with reporters afterward. She testified in a deposition Wednesday that the book was originally her idea, Battista said at Friday's hearing.
Arnelle Simpson had sought to reorganize her company, which would have allowed her to maintain temporary control over the book's rights.
The book's rights are now expected to pass to an independent trustee, Drew Dillworth. Dillworth's laywer, Brian Rich, said they will now attempt to try and sell rights, including the right to publish the story, the rights to the story itself and a 25-page outline of the book.
"We will now attempt to accept offers to try and market the rights and sell them so that there will be funds to pay creditors of LBA, including the Goldmans," Rich said.
He said there have been expressions of interest, but would not say who they were from.
Simpson has maintained his innocence. In the book, Simpson explains how he might have committed the slayings.
HarperCollins had planned to publish the book, but cancelled the deal with Simpson after public outrage.
All copies of the book have been ordered turned over, but Battista said the Simpsons have failed to comply.
A manuscript of the book was given to the trustee Friday, but HarperCollins retains any existing copies of the book, Whittle said.
Works for me!
How about, “When I Did It?”
Wow! Good for the Goldmans.
Its hard to say how much more money OJ has hidden. I think we all know its probably in the million dollar range.
Good........no rest for that POS !
You can run but you cannot hide..... unless you’re illegal.
As for the title, can OJ sue his own daughter for defamation?
Well now I am having second thoughts about this case. At first I was like everyone. I believed he did it, but during the trial, there was a question that NO ONE could answer. It was totally overlooked by those involve in the trial and those analysts on tv.
As I have said, I thought he did do it. Now I am certain he didn’t. Does it clear him, NO. I believe he knows who did it. During the trial, I recall 2 black saabs in the driveway beside the Bently belonging to OJ. I think it was the Limo drive when he arrived and finally drove up - there was only 1 black Saab. 1 belonged to Arnelle, but the other one? In my opinion, there was another individual on that property, only OJ knew about.
I believe OJ did drove there to see if the job was finished, but he was shocked to see how brutal the murder was only to top it off, to see another individual murder. I believe OJ intended to scare her, but what he walked into was something he was totally shocked & unprepared for. Which would explain him driving back to the house in a frenzy - as a witness on the road stated.
Is he still accountable - Yes. However, did he commit the physical murders - NO. Unless there is answer to that overlooked question - who did the second black Saab belong to?
so the real murderer really is out there somewhere on a golf course ?
love to have some of whatever it is you are smoking
Step away from the Bong dude!
He won;’t pay this money eitehr, seeing as how he hasn’t paid one red cent of what he owes the Goldmans from the previous caase.
“Lorraine Brooke Associates is run by Simpson’s daughter, Arnelle.”
Arnelle couldn’t even run a business into bankruptcy. O.J.’s kids have even less intellect than he has.
Lorraine Brooke Associates was “clearly accomplished to perpetuate a fraud,” Cristol said.”
Sounds like a crime.
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