Resumption of Simpson’s Deposition Asked in Civil Lawsuit

Lawyers for the mother of murder victim Ronald Lyle Goldman asked a Santa Monica Superior Court judge Monday to compel O.J. Simpson to resume a deposition session that was interrupted at the end of last week.

Superior Court Judge Alan B. Haber is scheduled to hear the request of Sharon Rufo’s lawyers today.

Last week, Simpson was deposed for five days in West Los Angeles by Daniel M. Petrocelli, the lead lawyer for Fred Goldman, Ronald Goldman’s father. Rufo, Fred Goldman and the estate of Nicole Brown Simpson have filed civil wrongful-death suits against Simpson stemming from the June 12, 1994, murders of Goldman and Simpson’s ex-wife.

On Friday, attorneys announced that Petrocelli had not concluded his questioning and that conclusion of the deposition had been delayed because Simpson’s lead lawyer, Robert C. Baker, had a scheduling conflict.

Petrocelli and John Quinlan Kelly, the Brown family’s lawyer, said they thought there was no problem with the delay and indicated that a hiatus might benefit them because it would give them time to review some of Simpson’s financial records and a 2 1/2-hour video on the former football star scheduled for release Feb. 17. Over the weekend, sources close to the case said they expected that the deposition would resume after Feb. 17.

But on Monday, Rufo’s lawyers, Michael A. Brewer and Christopher Olsen, asked Haber to order Simpson to resume the deposition because of a prior court order that Simpson be questioned every weekday until the deposition was finished.

“A delay until next month is unacceptable to us in view of the court’s order, as well as the fact that we have an April 2 trial date and the fact that all discovery--including depositions--is scheduled to be cut off on March 2,� Brewer said.

Simpson’s lawyers did not return a call seeking comment.

Last week, Simpson was asked about his actions the day of the murders, the day after the murders and on June 17, 1994, when he and longtime friend Al Cowlings led authorities on a car chase.

Simpson also was questioned about physical evidence, such as a knit cap and glove found at the murder scene.

Over the coming weeks, a number of other key figures in the case are expected to be deposed. Among them are Cowlings and longtime Simpson friend Robert Kardashian; Kato Kaelin; Kathy Randa, Simpson’s personal assistant; and Simpson’s adult children, Jason and Arnelle. Also set for depositions are Dr. Robert Huizenga, who examined Simpson shortly after the murders, and Kansas City Chiefs running back Marcus Allen, who was a close friend of Simpson’s.

Defense lawyers have requested depositions of Rufo, Los Angeles Police Det. Tom Lange, former Dets. Philip Vannatter and Mark Fuhrman, LAPD nurse Thano Peratis, Fred and Kim Goldman, Nicole Brown Simpson’s sister Denise and her father, Louis Brown, as well as Fay Resnick and Cora Fischman, friends of Nicole Simpson.

Brewer said he thought Fuhrman’s deposition would be very brief: “I expect Fuhrman to take the 5th Amendment on every question.� Brewer noted that since Fuhrman has not been through any criminal proceedings and is the subject of a criminal investigation, he could invoke his privilege against self-incrimination in the civil case.