Jury unanimous: Simpson is liable

Millions in damages ordered

February 4, 1997
Web posted at: 11:55 p.m. EST Latest developments:

Simpson's reaction subdued
Emotional courtroom greets verdicts
Jury: eight for eight
How much is Simpson worth?
Related stories and sites

SANTA MONICA, California (CNN) -- O.J. Simpson is liable for the death of Ronald Goldman and committed battery against his ex-wife Nicole Brown Simpson, a civil trial jury ruled unanimously Tuesday.

The Superior Court jury awarded $8.5 million in compensatory damages to the Goldman family and Ron Goldman's biological mother Sharon Rufo. The Brown family did not seek compensatory damages.

The jury will return Thursday to consider possible punitive damages for the Goldmans and the estate of Nicole Brown Simpson. A hearing will be held Wednesday without the jury present to determine what witnesses will be called.

Simpson's reaction subdued

Simpson, looking subdued but smiling weakly for cameras, left the courthouse in a black Suburban about a half-hour after the verdicts were read in the packed courtroom. He was greeted by cheers and boos from an assembled crowd as he left, and had a brief police motorcycle escort.

The Goldman family, accompanied by their attorney Daniel Petrocelli, left the courthouse with arms raised in triumph, to rousing cheers. Fred Goldman and Kim Goldman, Ron's father and sister respectively, have been outspoken in their belief Simpson committed the murders.

"Today it's 2 1/2 years and we finally have justice for Ron and Nicole," Goldman told reporters afterwards. Petrocelli said he was "very grateful" for the verdicts.

The Brown family, surrounded by uniformed police on motorcycles and foot, followed the Goldmans.

John Kelly, attorney for the Browns, said the verdicts were a relief for a family that "has suffered more pain and more agony than one family should endure."

"We should remember what a vibrant person Nicole was -- daughter, wife and mother -- and no jury verdict is going to change that," Kelly added.

A gag order remained in place, technically forbidding lawyer and jury members from speaking about the case.

Emotional courtroom greets verdicts

Jury members looked somber as the verdicts were read, though reporters described palpable emotion in the courtroom. Denise Brown -- Nicole's sister -- let out a cry, prompting an admonishment from the judge.

Brown's other sisters and mother also cried, as did Kim Goldman and Petrocelli. Louis Brown smiled, and Fred and wife Patty Goldman hugged and cried.

Hundreds of people gathered outside the courthouse, and roared when reporters posted a sign with the letter "Y" for "Yes" to indicate a verdict in favor of the plaintiffs.

Los Angeles County and Santa Monica police were placed on light tactical alert in what was described as a customary move following a high-profile verdict.

Jury: eight for eight

The jury unanimously ruled against Simpson on each of the eight technical questions of liability. It effectively found Simpson liable for his ex-wife's death, though the Brown family did not seek such a verdict.

The jury also found Simpson acted with malice and oppression in the attacks.

Simpson was acquitted in October 1995 in the killings to close out a lengthy criminal trial.

The verdicts capped some 16 hours of deliberations by the six-man, six-woman jury, which had been deliberating since January 31 after the dismissal of one panel member. The final panel included nine whites, one Hispanic, one Asian and one of Asian and black heritage.

Earlier Tuesday, the jury had five hours of trial testimony read back to them, including parts about Simpson's alibi, domestic violence and the timeline provided by former limousine driver Alan Parks, who took Simpson to the airport the night of the killings.

The jury had only to agree whether there were a preponderance of evidence, not proof beyond a reasonable doubt.

How much is Simpson worth?

During the punitive case, the plaintiffs will call at least two witnesses who will testify how much Simpson and the Simpson name and image are worth.

With some parameters, the law leaves the amount of punitive damages completely up to the jury. Jurors must consider how reprehensibly Simpson acted, how much the award would financially hurt Simpson and whether the damage awards "bear a reasonable relation" to the nature of the killings.

Correspondents Jennifer Auther, Charles Feldman, Greg LaMotte and Jim Moret contributed to this report.