LAS VEGAS (KLAS) — The lawyer handling O.J. Simpson’s estate wants to auction off pieces of the former football star and celebrity murder defendant’s property, court documents filed Wednesday said.
Simpson died on April 11 at the age of 76. His long-time attorney, Malcolm LaVergne was tasked to handle his trust and estate.
In Wednesday’s filing, LaVergne asked a Las Vegas judge to sell Simpson’s “unique and high-profile personal property through auction houses, waiving the usual requirement for court confirmation to maximize the estate’s value for creditors and interested parties,” documents said.
Items potentially to be auctioned off include a Heisman Trophy, golf clubs, Simpson’s car and driver’s license, LaVergne said, adding it was unclear if the trophy was authentic (Simpson was previously forced to auction his Heisman Trophy, which fetched $230,000).
A judge would have to sign off on the request. A hearing date was not scheduled as of Wednesday evening.
Simpson was tried and ultimately acquitted for the murder of his ex-wife, Nicole Brown Simpson, and her friend Ron Goldman in 1995. A jury found him liable in a civil suit and ordered him to pay $33.5 million to family members of Brown and Goldman.
Much of that judgment remains unpaid. LaVergne said in April that he would work to prevent a payout, adding that his hope was “that the Goldmans get zero, nothing.” He later told The Associated Press he intended to invite representatives of the Goldman and Brown families to “view my homework” with the Simpson estate, ”with the caveat that if they believe something else is out there … they’re going to have to use their own attorneys, their own resources, to try and chase down that pot of gold.”
Attorney David Cook, representing the Goldman family, said in April he thought the civil judgment owed today, including unpaid interest, is more than $114 million. LaVergne said he believed the amount was more than $200 million, and that Simpson’s assets won’t amount to that.
Evidence from Simpson’s notorious trial is still stored in Los Angeles County, and will likely remain there for perpetuity, authorities previously told Nexstar’s KTLA.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.