Goldman sues Simpson over deal
First, News Corp. canceled O.J. Simpson’s book project, the much-reviled “If I Did It,” which was purported to tell how the former football star could have killed his ex-wife Nicole Brown Simpson and her friend Ronald Lyle Goldman. Then, weeks later Judith Regan, the publisher who orchestrated the book and accompanying television interview, was fired.
Now, Goldman’s father, Fred Goldman, has sued Simpson in federal court in Los Angeles, claiming Simpson fraudulently made $1 million from the deal.
Though Simpson was acquitted of killing Goldman and Brown in his murder trial, a civil jury later found him liable for their deaths and ordered him to pay more than $30 million in restitution -- a debt he has not paid.
Goldman’s lawsuit, filed Tuesday, claims that the former star received a $1-million advance for the aborted book deal and created a dummy corporation, Lorraine Brook, named for his two children’s middle names, to hide income to avoid paying restitution on it.
The suit is Goldman’s latest attempt to collect on Simpson’s debt.
Goldman had sought to control the rights to Simpson’s name, image and likeness but was rebuffed last month by a Santa Monica judge.
Attorneys for Simpson could not be reached via telephone or e-mail.
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