How much money did O.J. Simpson have to pay to the Goldman and Brown families after the civil trial?

While O.J. Simpson’s acquittal in the 1995 criminal trial for the murders of Nicole Brown Simpson and Ronald Goldman dominated headlines, the legal story didn’t end there. The families of the victims pursued a civil lawsuit against Simpson, seeking financial compensation for their loss. This civil case, decided in 1997, resulted in a significant judgment against Simpson.

Differences between criminal and civil trials

The criminal trial required the prosecution to prove Simpson’s guilt “beyond a reasonable doubt,” a very high bar.

However, the civil case operated under a different standard – “preponderance of the evidence.” This meant the jury simply had to decide if it was more likely than not that Simpson was responsible for the deaths. This lower threshold allowed the victims’ families to prevail despite the acquittal in the criminal case.

The outcome of the civil trial

After a lengthy civil trial, the jury found in favor of the Goldman and Brown families. The total judgment against Simpson was a staggering $33.5 million. This amount was intended to compensate the families for various damages, including wrongful death, emotional distress, and punitive damages meant to punish Simpson’s actions.

While the civil verdict delivered a measure of justice to the families, collecting the full amount proved difficult. Simpson had already faced significant legal expenses during the criminal trial, and his post-trial endorsement deals dried up due to the negative publicity.

The families pursued various avenues to collect the judgment, including attaching liens to Simpson’s property and attempting to seize future earnings. However, Simpson declared bankruptcy in 2006, further complicating the collection process. It is now very unlikely the families will receive a modicum of compensation.