In 1994, O.J. Simpson, former college and NFL superstar and, at the time, actor and celebrity, was charged with the murder of his ex-wife and her friend, Ronald Godman
In 1994, O.J. Simpson, former college and NFL superstar and, at thetime, actor and celebrity, was charged with the murder of his ex-wife andher friend, Ronald Godman. It was among the most famous andnotorious criminal trials of the 20th Century. In 1995, a Los Angeles juryfound Mr. Simpson to be not guilty in the criminal case. In 1997, theparents of Ron Goldman won a civil suit for damages against Mr.Simpson based on the same events, facts etc. The Goldmans obtained alarge judgment against Mr. Simpson.This handout is about burden of proof and the standard of burden ofproof. It wonders, how can it be that Mr. Simpson is found not guilty inthe criminal case and then liable in the civil case. To answer thisquestion, you must understand the interrelationship between the standardof burden of proof in criminal and civil cases. Please answer thesequestions. [Note: Just do your best on these. Neither the slides nor thenotes provide absolute answers.]1. What is burden of proof?2. What is the “standard of burden of proof” for criminal and for civilcases?3. If Mr. Simpson had been found guilty in the criminal case, howmight this have affected the civil case?4. Given that Mr. Simpson was found not guilty, how is it thatplaintiffs could still file a civil action against him later?
