Simpson, family await verdict

Police placed on alert

SANTA MONICA, California (CNN) -- The nation waited with O.J. Simpson and the families who sued him for the verdict of the civil trial jury Tuesday.

The Superior Court indicated the jury reached a verdict in the lawsuit that includes a wrongful death complaint of the family of Ronald Goldman, and the battery complaint of the family of Nicole Brown Simpson.

Simpson was acquitted of the killings in October 1995, following a lengthy criminal trial. In this civil trial both families are seeking damages in the June 12, 1994, knifing deaths of Simpson's ex-wife and her friend.

The announcement of the verdicts was delayed for more than two hours pending the arrival of all the family members. The Brown and Goldman families received police escorts.

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.

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.

In contrast to the criminal trial, where a unanimous verdict was necessary, just nine of the 12 civil trial jurors needed to agree on a verdict.

Police placed on alert

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. Crowds began massing outside the Santa Monica courthouse as news of the pending verdict spread.

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