Judge Orders Simpson to Surrender New Vehicle

O.J. Simpson had another lesson Monday at the hands of the Santa Monica Superior Court: Easy come, easy go.

Judge David Perez ordered Simpson to surrender the new, $40,000 Ford Expedition he has been driving since his 50th birthday party earlier this month.

Simpson had argued that the car was not his to turn over--his mother and sisters bought the car, he said, but were letting him use it. Simpson said he did not know in whose name the car was registered.

Attorneys for Fred Goldman, father of slaying victim Ronald Lyle Goldman, said Simpson was trying to avoid paying a $19-million civil judgment awarded to Goldman in a wrongful death suit.

“This is part and parcel of this whole charade, your honor,” said attorney Gary Caris. “It’s gamesmanship and it’s an insult to the court.”

A civil trial jury found Simpson liable for the June 12, 1994, deaths of Goldman and Nicole Brown Simpson, Simpson’s former wife. A criminal court jury acquitted Simpson of murder charges.

On Monday, Perez also ordered Simpson to turn over a $20,000 grand piano, which Simpson similarly said was not his. Simpson said that although the piano was in his home, it was the property of his mother.

Simpson, who has said he receives $16,000 to $17,000 monthly after taxes from his pension plan, said he could afford to lease a car; he cannot buy one because it, too, could be seized by the court.