MIAMI - The family of Ron Goldman has purchased the rights to O.J. Simpson's canceled book, "If I Did It," from a court-appointed bankruptcy trustee in a settlement reached Monday. The book rights will be held in the name of Ron Goldman LLC, Goldman family attorney David Cook said.
Goldman was slain along with Simpson's ex-wife, Nicole Brown Simpson, in 1994. The former football star has maintained his innocence. He was acquitted of murder, but Goldman's family won a civil wrongful death case against him now totaling more than US$33 million.
"Ron Goldman LLC will own Simpson's name, likeness, signature and story and will hawk it to satisfy this terrible judgment. Justice has arrived in Miami," Cook said.
The Goldmans own the copyright, media rights and movie rights. They also acquired Simpson's name, likeness, life story and right of publicity in connection with the book, according to court documents.
The Goldmans want to rename the book "Confessions of a Double Murderer" and plan to shop it around, Cook said.
According to the settlement, the Goldmans must pay the bankruptcy trustee 10 per cent of the first $4 million in gross proceeds and a percentage of all proceeds beyond that.
Simpson's lawyer, Yale L. Galanter, said the bankruptcy trustee doesn't have the right to sell anything on behalf of his client.
Last month, U.S. Bankruptcy Judge A. Jay Cristol paved the way for Monday's settlement by upholding the Goldmans' right to their claim. He also ruled that a company started by Simpson's daughter, Arnelle, was set up "to perpetuate fraud."
Lorraine Brooke Associates, which owned the rights to the book, can be considered as belonging to the former football star, Cristol said.
O.J. Simpson's book contract with HarperCollins, and a money trail showing $630,000 transferred from the publisher to Lorraine Brooke and then to Simpson for his expenses, confirm his connection to the company, Cristol said.
Telephone or e-mail messages left for Kendrick Whittle, the attorney for Simpson's daughter, and independent trustee, Drew Dillworth, were not immediately returned Monday night.
