Simpson Ordered to Begin Turning Over Possessions

By HENRY WEINSTEIN

March 28, 1997 12 AM PT

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TIMES LEGAL AFFAIRS WRITER

A judge Thursday ordered O.J. Simpson to turn over his Heisman Trophy, golf clubs, an Andy Warhol serigraph of himself and a bevy of jewelry, furs and silverware worth more than $500,000 to partially satisfy the $33.5-million judgment a jury rendered against him.

A $40,000 gold necklace with 89 diamonds, the $25,000 Warhol serigraph and a $26,500 full-length fur coat were among the highest-valued possessions on a list of 107 items.

Simpson’s adversaries also are going after a fancy collection of Italian silverware by Bucellati: 11 knives, 11 forks, 11 teaspoons, 11 salad forks, seven soup spoons and two vegetable servers assessed at $16,297.

Superior Court Judge Hiroshi Fujisaki’s order directs Simpson to turn the property over to the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department within seven days of being served with the order.

The judge acted in response to a request made by attorneys for Fred Goldman, who won a civil trial verdict in February holding Simpson liable for the June 12, 1994, slayings of his son, Ronald Lyle Goldman, and Simpson’s ex-wife Nicole Brown Simpson.

A jury awarded Goldman $13.475 million in compensatory and punitive damages. The estate of Nicole Brown Simpson was awarded $12.5 million, while Sharon Rufo, Ron Goldman’s mother, was awarded $7.525 million.

Simpson has appealed the verdicts and has asked the judge to reduce the damage awards. But he has not obtained any order preventing the plaintiffs from proceeding against his assets while the appeal is pending.

But it was revealed Thursday that Simpson has taken steps that could make it more difficult for Goldman to collect.

Simpson’s lawyer, Philip Baker, said in court and in an interview that his client no longer owns most of the items being sought by Goldman.

Baker said they had been placed in a trust for Simpson’s minor children, Sydney and Justin, that was created on March 10.

The trust provides that the items are to be sold by trustee Shirley S. Baker, Simpson’s sister, within six months and that the cash will go into the trust “in partial satisfaction of the verdict and proposed judgment in favor of the estate of Nicole Brown Simpson.”

Peter Gelblum, one of Goldman’s attorneys, said he suspects the trust is fraudulent and was created to frustrate his client’s efforts to collect his award. The trust was created after the verdicts.

“We anticipated this all along--that he would favor them [his ex-wife’s estate] over us,” Gelblum said.

“There is going to be a lot more litigation. O.J. won’t write us a check. He will try to frustrate our attempts to collect our legitimate judgment,” Gelblum added.

Baker issued a sharp retort to Gelblum’s contention about the trust.

“The Goldmans would have you believe that every nickel that doesn’t go to Fred Goldman is fraudulent, which is simply absurd. The children are creditors, just like the Goldmans. One has to ask, if this case is not about money, why would the Goldmans be trying to take money from the victims who suffered the most--Justin and Sydney Brooke Simpson.”

There was another sign Thursday that Goldman may be in a contest for Simpson’s assets with Nicole Simpson’s estate, headed by her father, Lou Brown.

It was learned that Fujisaki on Tuesday issued a similar order--under seal--in response to a request by lawyers representing the estate.

Fujisaki unsealed that order after Thursday’s hearing.

That order directs the Sheriff’s Department to enter Simpson’s Brentwood mansion to seize 66 items on a list submitted by attorneys Ira M. Friedman and Edward J. Horowitz. Although that list is shorter than the one submitted by Goldman’s lawyers, it includes some items that were not on the Goldman list.

Among them are two photos of President Richard M. Nixon inscribed to Simpson--the first from 1969, shortly after USC played Ohio State in the Rose Bowl, and the second signed in 1973 when Simpson was a star running back for the Buffalo Bills.

There is also a signed photograph from former California Gov. George Deukmejian and a Yamaha grand piano 6 feet by 6 inches long. This order did not mention any jewelry, furs or stock in Simpson companies.

Other items on the Goldman list are a tribute to Simpson’s lavish lifestyle: an 18-karat gold Rolex watch valued at $7,600, a $10,200 Chinese enameled porcelain bowl, a $24,480 Wisteria lamp, a $7,140 Chinese coromandel screen, and a plethora of Lalique glass wear, women’s jewelry and sports memorabilia, including one of Simpson’s Buffalo Bills helmets valued at $714 and “any and all golf clubs and golf bags.”

It is not clear who will get first crack at Simpson’s possessions. Several attorneys said distribution of property in such cases is a very complicated legal matter.

Gelblum said the Goldmans and the Browns are still trying to work out an accord to divvy up the assets but that such an agreement has not been reached.

“Until such time as the creditors reach an agreement, as a practical matter, each creditor must take steps that are appropriate to collect,” said Gelblum’s co-counsel Gary O. Caris. “Hence, you have a race.”

(BEGIN TEXT OF INFOBOX / INFOGRAPHIC)

Simpson’s Property

O.J. Simpson, who was found liable for the deaths of Nicole Brown Simpson and Ronald Goldman, was ordered by a judge to turn over much of his personal property to the Sheriff’s Department. The items include:

Housewares

Two Lalique swans: $10,600

One pair Baccarat Versailles candlesticks: $1,220

Dragonfly stained glass table lamp: $13,770

Red tulip lamp: $15,606

12 Baccarat Massena highball glasses; $1,500

Seven Baccarat Dom Perignon champagne glasses: $600

One Limoge Bernardaud Vulcain coffeepot: $846

One fish platter: $1,950

Two Lalique cats, one sitting, one laying: f$2,200

Jewelry

Men’s 18-karat gold Rolex wristwatch: $7,600