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OJ Teaming Up With Accuser To Sell Memorabilia?

Former NFL football star O.J. Simpson enters for his parole hearing at the Lovelock Correctional Center in Lovelock, Nev., on Thursday, July 20, 2017. Simpson was convicted in 2008 of enlisting some men he barely knew, including two who had guns, to retrieve from two sports collectibles sellers some items that Simpson said were stolen from him a decade earlier.
Jason Bean/The Reno Gazette-Journal via AP, Pool

Former NFL football star O.J. Simpson enters for his parole hearing at the Lovelock Correctional Center in Lovelock, Nev., on Thursday, July 20, 2017. Simpson was convicted in 2008 of enlisting some men he barely knew, including two who had guns, to retrieve from two sports collectibles sellers some items that Simpson said were stolen from him a decade earlier.

OJ Simpson is getting out of prison, but his memorabilia is back in, and it’s selling in Las Vegas.

John L. Smith says some of the items include not only the signature of the ex-NFL player, who was accused in the 1990s of killing Nicole Brown Simpson and Ron Goldman--they also include the name of Bruce Fromong.

“Fromong’s signature or autography appears right there under Simpson’s. And so, it’s not just an O.J. Simpson moment here. It’s not just – in this case a photograph of Simpson running track with an official designation to show the buyer that it’s an authentic signature and photograph but it’s also focused this is one of the pieces of memorabilia from that notorious robbery case”

Fromong was one of the accusers who helped put Simpson behind bars for a 2007 armed robbery. But during Simpson's parole hearing in July, Fromong supported Simpson's release.

"This is – I guess – the official kiss-and-make up of O.J. Simpson and Bruce Fromong,” Smith said. 

While Simpson is getting out of prison, he still has a large judgment to pay off from the civil case against him. 

“I’m sure he’s going to find it challenging to enjoy any kind of lifestyle benefitting from that notoriety,” Smith said.

Smith also has an update on settlement talks in a lawsuit with the State Veterans' Home in Boulder City.

World War II Navy veteran Charles Demos Sr. was a JAG officer who retired in southern Nevada and lived at the home in Boulder City.

He died in April 2015 at age 88. Weeks after his death, tests revealed the legionella bacterium -- which can turn into Legionnaires Disease -- in the water system at the veterans' home. And Demos died with the bacteria in his system.

The family sued the state, and today in Carson City the Board of Examiners is scheduled to consider a $750,000 settlement with the family.

“It led to – what I think is something more revealing – and that is a thorough cleaning of the water system at a relatively new veterans’ home and the presences of Legionella in that water system. So, that death, basically, the effect was there was more testing done and certainly a standard that was reached that is certainly an improvement on the past.”

Smith said the case is important because so many former members of the military are choosing to retire in Las Vegas. 

“If this case can do anything, it should be as a reminder that that vigilance is essential because if you fall below a standard, you not only inviting litigation, but you’re inviting calamity.”

John L. Smith, Nevada Public Radio contributor

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Joe Schoenmann joined Nevada Public Radio in 2014. He works with a talented team of producers at State of Nevada who explore the casino industry, sports, politics, public health and everything in between.