O. J. Simpson (Born 1947), retired American football player, at Santa Monica courthouse after his civil trial hearing, June 27, 1997. In 1995, Simpson was acquitted of the murder of Nicole Brown Simpson and Ronald Goldman. A 1997, a judgment in civil court awarded the families $33.5 million in damages from Simpson, finding him liable for the wrongful death of Goldman and battery against Brown. He is currently serving a nine-year sentence for armed robbery and kidnapping.