Judge Orders O.J. Not To Spend Book $$$

A state judge has ordered O.J. Simpson to stop spending money he may have received for his unpublished book, "If I Did It," about the slayings of his ex-wife Nicole Brown Simpson and her friend Ron Goldman.

Los Angeles County Superior Court Judge Gerald Rosenberg's ruling on Wednesday extended a restraining order issued last month barring Simpson from spending any earnings from past deals, including books, films, and sports memorabilia.

The order, which was sought by Goldman's father, Fred, initially did not apply to the advance Simpson may have received from the book-and-TV deal for "If I Did It," because the father had filed a federal lawsuit over the funds. However, the federal lawsuit was dismissed Jan. 24 by a judge in Los Angeles who said he had no jurisdiction over Simpson, who lives in Florida.

The new order will remain in effect until a Feb. 20 hearing, in which Simpson's attorneys must provide the former football star's financial records if they want to ask the court to make an exemption on his spending.

"We dare him to provide a financial statement under oath," said Goldman's attorney, David J. Cook.

An after-hours message left for Simpson's attorney, Yale Galanter, was not immediately returned. Simpson told The Associated Press in November that the advance had already been spent, some of it on tax obligations.

The legal wrangling is the latest in a decade-long battle following a 1997 civil judgment against Simpson that held him liable for the deaths of Nicole Brown Simpson and Ron Goldman. Fred Goldman alleges Simpson is trying to avoid paying the $33.5 million judgment, which has ballooned to about $40 million with interest.

Simpson's book reportedly described how he theoretically would have committed the murders. It was canceled by publisher HarperCollins in November amid widespread public outrage.

Cook said the Goldman family remains concerned that Simpson may be shopping around for another book deal.