Judge Delays Deposition by Simpson

A judge on Friday postponed O. J. Simpson’s long-awaited deposition, scheduled to begin Monday in the civil wrongful-death cases filed against him by the families of Nicole Brown Simpson and Ronald Lyle Goldman.

Santa Monica Superior Court Judge Alan B. Haber agreed to hear a motion by the former football star’s attorneys seeking to disqualify the Goldmans’ lawyer for having a conflict of interest.

Simpson lawyer Robert Baker told Haber that the firm hired by the Goldmans--Mitchell, Silberberg & Knupp--once represented a company in which Simpson had a financial interest.

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Baker said he will file a motion Monday requesting the disqualification of Goldman attorney Daniel M. Petrocelli.

“I think it would be malpractice to produce Mr. Simpson before there is a resolution of the issue of conflict of interest,” Baker told the judge. “They’re going to get Mr. Simpson’s deposition. But before that occurs, I think we need to find out whether he should be interrogated . . . by anyone in the Mitchell, Silberberg & Knupp firm.”

Petrocelli denied any conflict of interest and called the claims a last-minute ploy by Simpson’s lawyers to delay the deposition.

“This man, Mr. Simpson, is playing games with the court,” Petrocelli told the judge. “It is important that you . . . prevent this from becoming another circus.”

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Outside court, Petrocelli said another lawyer from his firm had represented a corporation with ties to Honey Baked Hams, in which Simpson has a financial interest. He said the law firm no longer represents the corporation.

“These allegations were trumped up,” Petrocelli said. “There is no merit to them. I can assure you that Mitchell, Silberberg & Knupp has no conflict of interest in representing the Goldman family.”

Friday’s hearing grew acrimonious at several points as Baker and Petrocelli traded accusations.

At one point, Haber cut off both lawyers, telling Petrocelli: “I know you’re disappointed. But I know better than to try to resolve an issue of conflict of interest without a public airing.”

Haber scheduled a Jan. 16 hearing on the conflict issue.

After Friday’s hearing, attorneys met in the judge’s chambers and set a tentative date for Simpson’s deposition, but the judge ordered it kept secret.

The deposition would represent Simpson’s first questioning by attorneys on the events leading up to the June 1994 murders of his ex-wife and her friend. Simpson was acquitted of murder charges in the case.

Haber said he did not expect the legal skirmishing to delay the scheduled April 2 trial. But the assurances did little to quell the anger of the Goldman family, who accused Simpson of attempting to dodge the legal system even as he promotes his side of the story through an upcoming infomercial.

“How about being a man, do your deposition, get up in court and testify instead of being a coward,” said Fred Goldman, Ronald Goldman’s father, of Simpson after the hearing.

Kim Goldman, Ronald’s sister, also lashed out at Simpson.

“He spent his career running for points, and now when it counts he’s running for cover,” she said. “This is ridiculous.”