Following O.J. Simpson's acquittal of criminal charges, the Ron Goldman family filed a civil lawsuit against Simpson. Daniel M. Petrocelli represented the plaintiff Fred Goldman (Ronald Goldman's father). Robert Baker represented Simpson. Superior Court Judge Hiroshi Fujisaki presided over the trial; he barred TV and still cameras, radio equipment, and courtroom sketch artists from the courtroom. In October 1996, opening statements were made, and in January 1997, both sides rested their cases.

In February 1997, a civil jury in Santa Monica, CA, unanimously found Simpson liable for wrongful death of and battery. Simpson was ordered to pay $33.5 million in damages. In February 1999, an auction of Simpson's Heisman Trophy and other belongings netted almost $500,000, which went to the Goldman family. The balance is due.

Petrocelli (b. August 1953 in East Orange, NJ) is a law partner at O’Melveny & Myers LLP and the Chair of the firm’s Trial Practice Committee. Prior to joining the firm, he graduated from of University of California, Los Angeles with a degree in economics. He then moved on to the Southwestern University School of Law in Los Angeles where he received his Juris Doctor in 1980. He graduated first in his class from Southwestern and was also editor-in-chief of the Southwestern Law Review.

Petrocelli is well known for his work in the Simpson lawsuit, for representing Enron CEO Jeffrey Skilling, and for defeating the US Department of Justice’s in a merger case.

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