Judge: Sell your golf clubs, O.J.

June 16, 1997
Web posted at: 10:21 p.m. EDT (0221 GMT)

BEVERLY HILLS (CNN) -- A judge ruled Monday that O.J. Simpson's golf clubs and other personal effects must go on the auction block to help pay part of the $33.5 million judgment against him for the killings of Nicole Brown Simpson and Ron Goldman.

However, the disposition of Simpson's Heisman Trophy -- or even its whereabouts -- was not discussed at Monday's hearing before Superior Court Judge Irving Shimer. A source has told CNN that the Brown family has possession of the trophy.

Also during the hearing, the judge and Goldman family attorneys raised concerns that attorneys for Simpson and the Brown estate may be colluding to keep assets away from the Goldmans. The two children of Simpson and his late ex-wife are the sole beneficiaries of her estate.

"There is an alliance and an obvious alliance ... between the Simpson and the Brown sides of this case," Shimer said, adding that it makes him nervous.

Goldman attorney, Danny Petrocelli, said outside the courtroom he will "enforce the judgement no matter who stands in the way."

"There's absolutely no doubt that the lawyer from the Brown family and the lawyer from Mr. Simpson are working very closely together and colluding together to do everything they can to frustrate my client's ability to enforce this judgement."

"My client, Mr. Goldman, seeks only to enforce this judgement -- not to get a dime of Mr. Simpson's money -- but to see that Mr. Simpson bears some of the responsibility and the punishment the jury said he should bear for murdering two people," Petrocelli said.

As he left court, Simpson attorney Ronald Slates acknowledged that his legal team is giving preference to the Brown family in surrendering Simpson's assets.

The Goldman's other attorney, Gary Caris, said, "It's a scheme designed to allow Mr. Simpson to purportedly transfer assets to his children... The reason why they're in collusion, is the money then goes to Mr. Simpson."

Simpson's attorney, Ronald Slates, argued that golf was an essential part of Simpson's life as he played four or five times a week and that his golf equipment was a necessary part of his personal belongings. The golf clubs and other items were taken in March following the $33.5 million judgement against Simpson for the 1994 slayings.

Slates acknowledged that the foreclosure of Simpson's Rockingham estate is progressing and a sale of the home has been scheduled for sometime in mid-July.

In Monday's hearing, Shimer ruled that Simpson cannot retain his plaques and trophies, as well as several expensive pieces of artwork, including a metal statue of himself. The judge also stripped him of several expensive lamps -- ranging in value from $6,000 to nearly $25,000 -- ruling they were exorbitant and not typical of regular household items.

The items will be sold at an auction and then the money will go to the trusts of Nicole Brown Simpson and Ron Goldman.

Simpson's attorneys vowed to continue fighting for the golf clubs and are expected to file papers within the next week to continue that fight.

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Judge: Sell your golf clubs, O.J.

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