A former attorney for O.J. Simpson, Ronald Slates, has filed a lawsuit in Las Vegas seeking more than $1.1 million in unpaid legal fees from Simpson’s estate. The suit, filed in District Court, names Malcolm LaVergne, the administrator of Simpson’s estate, as the responsible party for settling the debt. Slates, represented by attorney Matthew Pruitt, claims he handled “various matters” for Simpson up until his death and that the majority of his legal fees remain unpaid.
Simpson’s estate has already approved a $58 million claim for Fred Goldman, father of Ron Goldman, related to the 1994 civil judgment against Simpson for the wrongful death of his son. However, the estate’s total value is estimated to be only $400,000 to $500,000, making it unlikely that Goldman or other creditors will receive full payment. LaVergne previously expressed reluctance for any estate funds to go to the Goldman family.
Slates’ creditor claim was entered in October but was rejected in November by LaVergne. LaVergne has stated that the lawsuit will proceed in the standard manner alongside other estate matters.