(NewsNation) — John Q. Kelly represented the family of Nicole Brown Simpson in the successful 1997 civil suit against her ex-husband, O.J. Simpson, in which they won a judgment of $33.5 million.
As for how much the family received? “None,” he said.
“His Hertz money was all a pension fund,” Kelly told NewsNation’s Elizabeth Vargas Reports. Simpson’s TV, movie and NFL money were also pensions.
“It was all judgment-proof. It was all very well insulated from the monetary punishment that he should have incurred,” Kelly said.
Simpson earned millions as a spokesman for Hertz Car Rental, appeared in several movies including “The Naked Gun” trilogy and was a color commentator on NFL games for ABC and NBC. All of those appearances earned him a SAG-AFTRA pension. He also received pension money from his 11-year NFL playing career.
He says the only money recovered was from seized assets, including Simpson’s Heisman Trophy, which brought about $1.5 million at auction.
Kelly succeeded in court where the criminal prosecutors failed in large part, he says, because of a very different atmosphere: “There was a gag order on everybody about the case. There were no cameras in the courtroom. The judge was much more ‘matter of fact’ in keeping things on course. We streamlined the case; we had more evidence.”
Kelly says he’s not surprised Simpson never expressed remorse over the deaths of his ex-wife and Ron Goldman.
“I think he honestly believes that he didn’t commit this crime – that he convinced himself,” Kelly said. “He’s that psychopathic (that he could) just put something like that out of his head … absolve himself of any guilt.”
Kelly doesn’t believe the news of Simpson’s death will bring the victims’ families any peace.
“It probably opens old wounds.”