The legal fallout tied to O.J. Simpson is still unfolding, with a new lawsuit adding pressure to an estate already stretched thin by massive financial obligations.
This time, the dispute comes from California attorney Ronald Slates, who claims he is owed more than $1 million for legal work performed over several years. Slates has filed suit against Malcolm LaVergne, the Las Vegas-based lawyer appointed as executor of Simpson’s estate, alleging that his fees were never fully paid despite continued representation.
According to court documents, Slates says he provided legal services to Simpson up until shortly before Simpson’s death in 2024 at age 76. While the work was completed, the lawsuit claims most of the billing went unpaid. Slates later filed a creditor’s claim in probate court, which was rejected. Around that time, LaVergne reportedly estimated the estate’s total value at roughly $400,000 to $500,000.
The timing of the lawsuit is significant, as the estate is already committed to a substantial payout connected to the long-running civil judgment involving Fred Goldman. A civil jury previously found Simpson liable for the 1994 deaths of Ron Goldman and Nicole Brown Simpson, awarding damages that grew dramatically over time due to interest.
Recent probate filings show the estate agreed to pay nearly $58 million toward that judgment. In written filings, LaVergne said the revised amount reflected a more accurate interest calculation, noting that an earlier figure “did not appear to be as accurate as possible based on simple judgment interest calculations.”
Slates now argues that his claim was wrongly denied and remains unresolved, setting up a direct conflict over limited estate funds. A probate court hearing scheduled later this month is expected to determine how those competing claims will be handled.
