US judge orders OJ to limit spending

A judge has ordered O.J. Simpson to limit his spending to "ordinary and necessary living expenses" after the family of murder victim Ron Goldman raised concerns the former American football star was shopping for another book deal.

Los Angeles County Superior Court Judge Gerald Rosenberg issued the limited restraining order on Friday, which also prohibits Simpson from spending any earnings from past deals, including books, films, and sports memorabilia. The order remains in effect until a February 20 hearing.

The order does not apply to the advance Simpson may have received from a cancelled book deal and TV interview in which he reportedly told a hypothetical tale of how he would have killed his ex-wife, Nicole Brown Simpson, and Goldman. The book was titled: If I Did It.

The advance money is already subject to a federal court order. Goldman's father, Fred, filed a federal lawsuit in December, alleging Simpson created a shell corporation that received hundreds of thousands of pounds for the book-TV deal. A hearing has been scheduled for January 24.

Fred Goldman claims Simpson is trying to avoid paying a 1997 judgment in a wrongful death lawsuit brought by the Goldman family. Simpson, who was acquitted of the double murder in 1995, has paid little of the $33.5m (€25.83) civil judgment aginst him.

Goldman's attorney, David Cook, said he was compelled to seek the new restraining order after ABC News reported Simpson wants to write a non-fiction account about his life with his ex-wife.

"The law is clear that he has a financial obligation that he needs to resolve," Cook said.

On Monday Simpson's attorney, Yale Galanter told ABC that since publisher HarperCollins cancelled the Simpson book deal, "we are taking the position that the contract with them is null and void. Or more accurately, others are free to try and get the story".