O.J. Book Rights Awarded to Goldman Family

June 15, 2007 (KABC) -- A federal bankruptcy judge has awarded Ron Goldman's family the rights to OJ Simpson's canceled book, "If I Did It."

Fred Goldman wants the book's proceeds included as part of a nearly $33.5 million dollar civil jury award they've been trying to collect for almost a decade.

Friday a judge determined that Simpson's book contract with Harper Collins and a money trail confirm his connection to a company he set up to perpetuate a fraud.

Fred Goldman's attorney calls it a huge victory for his client Friday a bankruptcy judge in Florida ruled that Goldman can pursue the publishing rights to a book by O.J. Simpson.

The book speaks "hypothetically" about the murders of Goldman's son Ron, and Simpsons ex-wife Nicole Brown. Simpson titled it 'If I Did It.'

"This judge found that O.J. Simpson engaged in a scheme to defraud Mr.Goldman in connection with the writing of this book the payments that were made by the publisher to Mr.Simpson from his book that Simpson hid from Goldman," says Paul Battista, Goldman's attorney.

Goldman's attorney says Simpson hid the $900-thousand dollars he received as advance for the book in a company he set up in name of his daughter, Arnelle. Then he proceeded to funnel the money back to himself, all in an effort to conceal it from his creditors.

"That corporation filed for bankruptcy we believe in an end run to stop a California State Court from ordering and concluding an auction sale of the book rights," says Battista.

The judge ruled Friday that Goldman, who filed a wrongful death lawsuit against Simpson ten years ago after he was acquitted in the murders, is now the corporations largest creditor.

"Mr. Goldman is the largest creditor of this company some $38 million dollars and ultimately whatever happens to this book, Mr.Goldman will be the biggest beneficiary of," says Battista.

Fred Goldman's attorney says they plan to publish the book and they may call it 'Confessions Of A Double Murderer.'

Publishing the book would keep Simpson from regaining the rights. Meanwhile, the attorney for Simpson's daughter denies the company was set up to defraud anyone and they have not yet decided if they will appeal.

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